De Veendam, varen onder de vlag van de Holland-Amerika Lijn

Veendam and New York—worlds apart, yet closely connected. The ties date back to 1888, when the first ship named Veendam was launched by the Netherlands-American Steamship Company. Over time, four ships bearing the name Veendam sailed under the flag of the Holland-America Line.

When we think of Veendam and shipping, we often picture domestic peat transport. Yet the peat trade in the Veenkoloniën evolved into a thriving commercial shipping industry. Until 1830, it was limited to inland waterways, but from 1860 onward, it expanded to the world’s oceans. This marked the beginning of the Veendam I, II, III, and IV—ships that ventured into international waters, mostly as passenger vessels. The Veendam IV remains in service to this day.

This richly illustrated book unpacks the history of De Veendam. A captivating document for maritime enthusiasts and a tribute to the town of Veendam. Ship logs, thrilling tales, rare documents… in short, a delightful book to browse and read.