His Majesty King Willem-Alexander will pay a working visit to the maritime manufacturing industry in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Hardinxveld-Giessendam on Thursday morning, 25 January. He will be accompanied by Minister Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. The theme of the visit is innovation, sustainability and labour shortages.
After an introduction about the Drechtsteden region, the King and the Minister will be given a tour of Koedood Marine Group, which specialises, among other things, in ship engines and making ships more sustainable with hybrid or electric propulsion.
They will then jointly visit Holland Shipyards Group for a tour and a discussion with sector representatives. Among other things, this shipyard builds electrically and hydrogen-powered ships such as ferries and exploits technologies such as 3D printing.
Also read: Holland Shipyards shows its innovative strength to Minister Adriaansens
Sector and state invest in innovative shipbuilding
The sector and the state have recently announced measures to protect against flooding, accelerate energy transition and ensure economic and military security. In 2024 and 2025, they will jointly invest an extra 60 million euros in innovative shipbuilding.
Also read: Dutch govt and sector put EUR 60 million in innovative shipbuilding
The Dutch maritime sector consists of various components such as ports, maritime and inland navigation, shipbuilding, offshore, hydraulic engineering and maritime services. In 2022, the maritime sector had a total added value of EUR 72 billion and employed 575,490 people. The maritime sector generates about seven per cent of the gross domestic product and six per cent of employment in the Netherlands.
The King regularly pays working visits together with a minister or state secretary. During these visits, the King uses concrete examples to see the effects of the policy of the minister in practice.
Picture: Dutch Minister Micky Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy also visited Holland Shipyards Group on 4 September, where the yard showed its innovative strength in shipbuilding (picture by SWZ|Maritime/G.J. de Boer).
Also read: VIDEO: Holland Shipyards’ 3D printed ferry spotted on the water
