HNLMS

HNLMS stands for His/Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship. It is the ship prefix used for commissioned vessels of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The prefix appears in English-language and international references to indicate a ship in active service under the Dutch Crown.

The prefix is placed before the vessel name, for example HNLMS De Ruyter or HNLMS Tromp. In Dutch-language contexts, the navy uses a locally adapted prefix, but HNLMS is common in international and English texts. The prefix signals that the ship is a military unit of the Koninklijke Marine and distinguishes it from civilian vessels.

HNLMS is applied to a wide range of commissioned Dutch naval vessels, including surface ships and submarines. It is part of the broader system of naval prefixes used by maritime nations to denote official naval status and allegiance to the reigning monarch. The practice mirrors other nations’ conventions, such as HMS for the United Kingdom, and serves to identify naval ships in formal and diplomatic communication.

Notable examples of vessels bearing the prefix include HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën and HNLMS Tromp, among others. The prefix remains in active use as part of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s standard ship designation in international contexts, publications, and official communications.