The Netherlands and Belgium have agreed to purchase four new frigates together. Because the warships are more expensive than expected, the Netherlands promises some extra orders for the Belgian industry, they have agreed.
Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder (PS) and her Dutch colleague Kajsa Ollongren signed the agreements during the state visit of Willem-Alexander and Máxima to our country. They did so on board the Dutch frigate De Ruyter. This warship is for the occasion in the port of Antwerp, next to the Belgian frigate Louise-Marie to mark the intensive cooperation between the naval forces of the two countries.
The two countries are each depositing about two billion euros to strengthen their navy with two so-called ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) frigates. That is considerably more than Belgium had counted on. In 2018, the price was still estimated at 1.2 billion euros. To rectify this, the Netherlands is ordering 355 million euros from the Belgian business community. The Dutch company Damen builds the frigates.
Filip is not allowed on the Dutch frigate
However, Filip and Willem-Alexander could not participate in the signing ceremony at De Ruyter together, the Dutch newspaper ‘Algemeen Dagblad’ reports. Unlike his Dutch colleague, Filip is commander-in-chief of all our armed forces, including the navy. And since the Dutch ship is now in Belgian waters, Filip should take over command of the frigate upon entry.
LOOK. The Dutch Queen Máxima took her Belgian colleague Queen Mathilde on De Ruyter and Willem-Alexander accompanied Filip on the Belgian frigate the Louise-Marie
The solution: the Dutch Queen Máxima took her Belgian colleague Queen Mathilde with her on De Ruyter and Willem-Alexander accompanied Filip on the Belgian frigate the Louise-Marie.
Close cooperation
The Dutch and Belgian navies work very closely together. Belgium is taking the lead in the purchase of twelve minehunters, the Netherlands is taking the lead in the replacement of the four M-frigates of both countries. They were commissioned in the 1990s. In December 2005, Belgium bought two vessels from the Netherlands, the Leopold 1 and the Louise-Marie, for 230 million euros.
The new frigates specialize in fighting submarines, but can also take on enemy ships and airborne resistance. They should be ready in about seven years and last for forty years.
LOOK. On deck of Belgian frigate Louise-Marie
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss a thing of the stars.