The Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS De Ruyter (F804) arrived at Kochi on Monday, marking a significant step in strengthening maritime cooperation between India and the Netherlands.
The De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Kochi Harbour, escorted by Indian Navy Fast Interceptor Craft and received with full naval honours, including a band performance.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the visit coincides with a high-level Dutch delegation led by Rob De Wit, Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, and Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The delegation is visiting the Southern Naval Command (SNC) in Kochi.
During the visit, the delegation held discussions with Prakash Gopalan, Chief of Staff at SNC, focusing on areas of mutual interest in the maritime domain and exploring avenues to enhance naval cooperation between the two countries.
In a solemn gesture coinciding with the Netherlands’ National Remembrance Day on May 4, the Dutch delegation laid wreaths at the SNC War Memorial, paying tribute to fallen soldiers.
The visiting team is also scheduled to tour training establishments under the Southern Naval Command, where they will witness demonstrations of advanced simulators and training infrastructure. In addition, the delegation will visit Cochin Shipyard Limited to explore opportunities for industrial collaboration and gain insights into India’s shipbuilding capabilities.
The HNLMS De Ruyter is currently on a five-month Indo-Pacific deployment and is set to participate in multiple maritime exercises with partner nations. Notably, the Deputy Commander had earlier attended the IONS Conclave of Chiefs during MILAN 2026 held in Visakhapatnam earlier this year.
Before departing Kochi, the Dutch warship will conduct a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with an Indian Navy vessel, aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational synergy between the two navies.
