Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard in Venice has hosted the coin ceremony and launch of Holland America Line's cruise ship Nieuw Statendam.
The 99,500-tonne Nieuw Statendam is the second Pinnacle-class ship for Holland America Line, after MS Koningsdam was launched in April 2016.
A third Pinnacle-class ship will set sail for the cruise line in 2021.
Almost 300 metres long, Nieuw Statendam will have accommodation for up to 2,660 passengers when it is delivered in the third quarter of 2018.
An authentic Dutch gilder was welded to the forward mast of the ship. It will be fully floated out and move to an outfitting pier on December 21.
Nieuw Statendam will have exclusive public spaces and its style created by Adam D. Tihany and designer/architect Bjorn Storbraaten, including interiors inspired by the fluid curves of musical instruments.
Holland America Line's first ship to be called Statendam sailed in 1898, and this will be the sixth ship in the company's history to carry the name.