More than eighty years after D-Day, a commemorative plaque has been unveiled in Arromanches-les-Bains, France. It honours the contribution of Dutch merchant navy and Royal Netherlands Navy personnel to the Allied landings of 6 June 1944.
The initiative came from the Merchant Navy Personnel Foundation 1940–1945 (Stichting koopvaardijpersoneel 1940-1945), which sought long-overdue recognition for the Dutch maritime role in Operation Overlord.
While Dutch ground forces were not involved in the initial invasion, Dutch naval and merchant vessels participated from the first day. Among them were the gunboats HNLMS Flores and HNLMS Soemba – known as the “Terrible Twins” – as well as aircraft of 320 Squadron and numerous merchant ships, tankers, ferries, cargo vessels and tugs supporting the Allied advance.
During the ceremony, Dutch ambassador Jan Versteeg and the mayor of Arromanches-les-Bains, Marcel Bastide, laid wreaths in honour of those who took part in the liberation of Western Europe. Commander Frank Lenssen highlighted the contribution of the Royal Netherlands Navy, including thirteen motor torpedo boats that escorted landing craft and eighteen B-25 Mitchell bombers that attacked German positions.
Tugboat Zwarte Zee
The plaque was unveiled by Commander Lenssen and John Vet, grandson of renowned tugboat captain Teun Vet. During the war, Vet commanded the powerful tug Zwarte Zee, which participated in numerous operations, including D-Day.
Following the unveiling, a bugler from the Royal Netherlands Navy Marine Band played the Taps, after which wreaths were laid by several Dutch military, veterans’ and maritime organisations.
Foundation chairman Hubert Nijgh described the memorial as the recognition that Dutch merchant navy and naval personnel had been waiting for since 1944. The plaque now provides a permanent reminder of the Dutch maritime contribution to one of the most important military operations in history.
