Holland America Line tiles/tegels

ROYAL GOEDEWAAGEN SHIPS

In 1990, Holland America Line announced a new construction program for four new ships of a type that would be called the Statendam class. The S-class consists of the Statendam (1993-2015), Maasdam (1993-2020), Ryndam (1994-2015) and Veendam (1996-2020).

Since 1993, it has been customary for a Holland America Line ship to be launched along with a model from the ceramic shipyard. These are hand-painted models made by Royal Goedewaagen, ranging in length from 6,7 to 8.7 inch. As far as I know, 19 models from the ceramic shipyard have been launched to date.

Of the four S-class ships (all 6,7 inch), the model of the Veendam is missing from my collection. It is certain that a model of the Veendam was issued. It is in the collection of Staff Captain Folkert Visser.

The R-class consists of the Rotterdam VI (1996-2020), Amsterdam (2001-2020), Volendam (1999) and Zaandam (2000). No Goedewaagen model was made of the latter two ships. The model of the Rotterdam and Amsterdam measures 7.87 inches.

(to be continued)

RIWAG SHIPS

In the 1960s, five so-called Riwag ships graced the counters of travel agents. The wooden ships were by Richard Wagner Modellbau in Flensburg, Germany (1935-1974).

The model of the Ryndam (with the black-painted rim) was displayed in the main contractor’s construction shed at Dok- en Werfmaatschappij Wilton Fijenoord in Schiedam (Netherlands) from 1951 onwards during the ship’s construction. Holland America Line was so impressed with this model that orders were subsequently placed for the sister ships Maasdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Statendam.

(wordt vervolgd)