Holland America Line has announced two parnterships.

The cruise line is celebrating its Dutch heritage in a new partnership with Rijksmuseum, the national museum in the Netherlands and another with microgreen specialist Koppert Cress to grow fresh ingredients on board.

Through the collaboration, the “Rijksmuseum at Sea” created by Rijksstudio will be installed on ms Oosterdam during its scheduled dry dock in April 2016 and then move fleetwide over the next several years.

Reproductions of some of the museum’s most famous masterpieces will be showcased throughout the ship and a dedicated space onboard will invite guests to explore their own creativity through guided art workshops. Guests will be able to view videos about the museum and its collections on the in-stateroom television, while enrichment programs and presentations by Rijksmuseum staff will be available on select cruises. Guests also will have the opportunity to purchase special branded Rijksmuseum merchandise in the onboard shops.
Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president, said, “Great works of art have always been the centre piece of our onboard décor, and we’re excited that this partnership with Rijksmuseum will add some spectacular reproductions to our collection of more than 1,300 pieces fleetwide. Through art, like travel, we see things differently; we open our eyes to the world around us and see things we may never have experienced before.”

The partnership with microgreen specialist Koppert Cress will see fresh ingredients grown on board the line’s newbuild, ms Koningsdam. The Koppert Cress partnership will enable guests to indulge in fresh microgreens grown onboard in the Culinary Arts Center while enjoying a farm-to-table-style menu for dinner.

The ingredients will be on display in a glass-enclosed growing area in the reimagined Culinary Arts Center, which also will serve as a dinner venue on Koningsdam. Dinner in the Culinary Arts Center restaurant will provide an immersive farm-to-table experience where chefs prepare simple, artisanal dishes in the show kitchen. Each course will be enjoyed as it’s freshly prepared, with some ingredients harvested by the ship’s chefs from the Koppert Cress growing area just before being served.

Ashford  said, “We’re excited to partner with an innovative company like Koppert Cress to expand our culinary program with a special farm-to-table dining concept. This partnership brings a unique, hands-on and fresh experience to our newest dining venue aboard Koningsdam.”

Once sown, the seedlings will grow for up to two weeks and then used during dinner in the Culinary Arts Center. The microgreens have distinct flavours like garlic, mustard and liquorice, which will enhance the taste of each dish served.

Visit hollandamerica.co.uk or call 0843 374 2300