For the first time in the ship's history, a member of a royal family has completed an entire voyage as a regular voyage crew member aboard Statsraad Lehmkuhl. Dutch Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia (22) spent a week at sea, sleeping in a hammock, standing at the helm and climbing the rigging alongside cadets from the Royal Netherlands Naval College.
The voyage took the ship from Edinburgh to Den Helder in the Netherlands, arriving this past weekend. Cadets and officers from the Royal Netherlands Naval College sail aboard Statsraad Lehmkuhl every year as part of their leadership training.
Throughout the voyage, the Crown Princess took part on equal terms with the other cadets. She slept in a hammock on the lower deck, stood watch, climbed the rigging and took her turn at the helm. She attended training sessions and joined in the daily work of sailing the ship.
For security reasons, the Crown Princess’s participation was kept confidential until the voyage had ended. Even the Dutch cadets had no idea that their future queen would be sailing alongside them until she came aboard.
Dutch Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia (in light blue uniform) with the crew of Statsraad Lehmkuhl following the week-long voyage from Edinburgh to Den Helder in October 2026.
Captain Jens Joachim Hiorth describes an engaged and down-to-earth Crown Princess who left a lasting impression.
“She took part in the voyage on exactly the same terms as any other cadet, but I came away with an impression of something more – a warm, caring and engaged young person. It was a genuine pleasure to have her aboard.”
The Crown Princess also left the ship with lasting memories. In her feedback after the voyage, she described the week as a truly special experience and said that both the ship and its crew had made a lasting impression on her. She particularly appreciated everything she had learned from the crew and was pleased to discover that she handled rough seas far better than she had expected.
Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia (right) is the eldest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and is first in line to the Dutch throne. Photo: Royal House of the Netherlands
Haakon Vatle, CEO of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Foundation, says it was a great honour to welcome the Crown Princess aboard.
“Over the years, we have welcomed both royalty and heads of state aboard Statsraad Lehmkuhl, but this is the first time a member of a royal family has joined us for an entire voyage as a regular member of the voyage crew. We are especially pleased that the Crown Princess had the opportunity to experience not only life at sea, but also the unique sense of community that develops when we sail together. We are proud of our ship and crew, and delighted that they gave her an experience she will remember for years to come.”
By Helene Spurkeland
Published 21 October 2026