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Simular to the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines complimentary gift of small ceramic replicas of historical houses, Holland America Line hands out ceramic Delft Blue tiles in various forms and shapes, as part of their Mariner Society Rewards Program.
Since there is no accurate administration, it was not exactly known how many different tiles have been produced on behalf of Holland America Line. For the last 60 years the majority of the ceramic tiles have been manufactured by Royal Goedenwaagen-Gouda in Nieuw-Buinen, The Netherlands. On a global basis a search has been initiated by collectors to make an inventory of all tile editions from Royal Goedewaagen-Gouda. That inventory has been completed. The number of issued HAL official tile editions is set at 337 pieces. All tiles can be found on this website. Estimated 80 tiles are issued by associated organizations.
My collection consists of 415 tiles and 8 tile tableaus. The items in this collection have been acquired through website and exhibition purchases, through auctions and gifts.
Update September 1, 2024:
The tile tableau of the ss Veendam III (1973-1984), former ss Argentina that was built in 1958 for Moore-McCormack Lines, is made in 1983 in the Netherlands by pottery ’t Delftsche Huys (since 1981). Until now I assumed that this factory produced three tile tableaus in the Holland America Line series, but is has now turned out that there are at least four. Fellow collector Donald van der Horst from Eastermar in the Dutch province of Friesland sent me a photo of the ss Rotterdam tableau. One can find the tableau in the menu News.
Some special tiles from my collection can also be found on the website of Holland America Line:
https://www.hollandamerica.com/150th-anniversary/en/category/artifacts/
Next update: December 1, 2024.
