HNLMS De Ruyter (F804), a De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy, arrived at Kochi on Monday | Photo: Indian Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS De Ruyter (F804) arrived in Kochi on May 4 during a five-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, according to the Indian Navy.
The visit coincided with a delegation visit to Southern Naval Command (SNC) led by Major General (Royal Marines) Rob De Wit, Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, and Ms Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India.
The De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate was escorted into Kochi Harbour by Indian Navy Fast Interceptor Craft and received with a ceremonial welcome.
During the visit, the Netherlands delegation met Rear Admiral Prakash Gopalan, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, for discussions on maritime cooperation and areas of mutual interest between the two navies.
The delegation also laid wreaths at the SNC War Memorial on May 4, observed in the Netherlands as National Remembrance Day.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the delegation is scheduled to visit professional training establishments at Southern Naval Command and observe simulator and training infrastructure demonstrations. The delegation will also visit Cochin Shipyard Limited to review India’s shipbuilding capabilities and discuss possible industrial cooperation.
The ministry said professional and social interactions between Indian and Netherlands naval personnel are planned during the port call.
After departing Kochi, HNLMS De Ruyter is scheduled to conduct a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with an Indian Navy ship to improve interoperability and operational coordination between the two navies.
The visit follows Major General (Royal Marines) Rob De Wit’s participation in the IONS Conclave of Chiefs during MILAN 26 in Visakhapatnam in February 2026.
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