When Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam sets sail in December 2018, the ship’s senior staff officers will bring a combined 80 years of company loyalty and experience. The cruise line announced that Captain Sybe de Boer, Staff Captain Kevin Beirnaert, Hotel Director Don Habets, Chief Engineer Eric van Loenen, and Environmental Officer Dolf Kramer will lead Nieuw Statendam’s shipboard teams.
As the arrival date for Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam draws closer, the company is releasing more and more details about their newest flagship. Having previously released details on the reimagined staterooms and suites, two weeks ago the cruise line introduced Rolling Stone Rock Room. Developed in partnership with Rolling Stone this new venue will join Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and B.B. King’s Blues Club at the innovative Music Walk on Holland America Line ships and take guests on a journey through Rock’n’Roll history.
Senior staff officers bring a combined 80 years of service to Holland America Line’s newbuild Nieuw Statendam
To ensure a successful launch, Holland America Line has selected experienced officers and staff to lead Nieuw Statendam’s shipboard teams.
Captain Sybe de Boer
Captain Sybe de Boer will be in command when Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam sets sail in December 2018. Having been with the company since 1994 when he joined the former Nieuw Amsterdam, de Boer rose through the ranks from second officer to captain. He has been master of Statendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam,Amsterdam and Eurodam, and served on Maasdam, Ryndam, Noordam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Koningsdam.
For the past three years he represented Holland America Line as a Fleet Captain at Maritime Quality Assurance, Carnival Corporation Plc. In this role he advanced the Bridge Resource Management policies and procedures across the Carnival Corporation brands.
Hailing from the Netherlands Captain de Boer resides in The Hague. He enjoys going to concerts, visiting museums, flying light aircraft (he holds a commercial pilot’s license), sailing, photography and bicycling. He graduated from the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz in Terschelling, the Netherlands, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Navigation.
Hotel Director Don Habets
Since joining Holland America Line in 2002, Hotel Director Don Habets has sailed on all of the company’s ships, including the former Ryndam and Statendam, His first ship was Maasdam, and most recently he served on board Koningsdam. Habets began as an assistant maître d’ and worked his way up to hotel director through various hotel department positions.
A native of the Netherlands, Habets graduated from the Hoge Hotel School in Maastricht, the Netherlands, with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. He enjoys life and everything it brings, as well as making Holland America Line guests and crew happy.
Staff Captain Kevin Beirnaert
Nieuw Statendam’s Staff Captain Kevin Beirnaert joined Holland America Line in 2006 and worked on Rotterdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Koningsdam. He was also a member of the senior team to introduce Koningsdam.
Hailing from Gent, Belgium, Beirnaert studied at the Hogere Zeevaart school in Antwerp, Belgium, and worked for freight company Ecuadorian Line and on dredging ships in Dubai, U.A.E., on the Palm Jumeirah Project before joining Holland America Line. He resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Chief Engineer Eric van Loenen
Chief Engineer Eric van Loenen joined Holland America Line in 2002 as a second engineer after working on container ships, cargo ships and chemical parcel tankers. He began his career with Holland America Line on Amsterdam and has served on several ships, including Maasdam, Ryndam, Volendam, Zaandam, Oosterdam,Zaandam and Zuiderdam.
Prior to being named to the Nieuw Statendam team he was chief engineer on Koningsdam.
Van Loenen graduated from the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz in Terschelling. He and his wife live in Makkum, Friesland, in the Netherlands with their three children.
Environmental Officer Dolf Kramer
Dutch native Dolf Kramer went to Nautical College in Den Helder, the Netherlands, and studied to be a shipboard engineer. Prior to joining Holland America Line in 2004 he worked on cargo ships and in a steel factory.
Kramer came to work for Holland America Line as an environmental officer, and he has worked on all classes of ships except Pinnacle Class. He has served on Statendam, Ryndam, Maasdam, Rotterdam, Volendam, Zaandam, Amsterdam, Prinsendam, Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam. Launching Nieuw Statendam — the second Pinnacle Class ship — will round out his class experience.
When he’s not on board, Kramer lives in Aruba with his wife where he spends time riding his Harley Davidson and working to restore his classic 1957 Chevrolet.
About Nieuw Statendam
Due for delivery Dec. 1, 2018, Nieuw Statendam is currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. The 2,666-guest, 99,500-ton ship will reflect the ongoing evolution of Holland America Line. From familiar elements that reflect a rich heritage and classic style to state-of-the-art enhancements that chart a bold new course forward, guests on board Nieuw Statendam will delight in details that are artfully inspired and perfectly presented to create the ultimate cruise experience.
While much of the ship’s design will be similar to Koningsdam, the first Pinnacle Class ship, Nieuw Statendam will have exclusive public spaces and its own style, created by leading hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany and designer and architect Bjørn Storbraaten. The ship will feature all of the hallmarks of Pinnacle-Class design: grand, light-filled spaces; visual drama; and sumptuous interiors inspired by the fluid curves of musical instruments.
During its inaugural year, Nieuw Statendam will explore the Caribbean in winter and then move to northern Europe, Iceland and the Mediterranean in summer.
For more information on Nieuw Statendam and to book your next cruise visit www.hollandamerica.com.