Holland America’s Big Three: From Hoboken's Historic Waterfront

Lights, Camera, Action!

This morning, Dutch TV is coming for an interview on Holland-America. And this afternoon we go to Hoboken, to 5^th Street, to the site of the now long-gone Holland-America Line terminal. Yes, lots of recollections! We spoke on camera of immigrants and steerage, troops during wartime, and mostly of the “Spotless Fleet” – ships such as the always immaculate and beautiful Nieuw Amsterdam, Statendam and Rotterdam. The “Big Three,” as they were dubbed. And when for nine months of each year, there was a midday sailing (12 noon to be exact) on Fridays for Southampton, Le Havre and Rotterdam.

A member of the Dutch TV crew films an interview with Miller along the Hudson waterfront. Credit William H. Miller.

We also gave a nod to Holland America’s innovations (the first cruise directors, no tipping, lido dining, etc.) and to student ships (the converted Victory ships Groote Beer, Waterman and Zuiderkruis) and around-the-world floating university cruises (on another converted ship, the Seven Seas).

Statendam glows under the night sky at Holland America’s Hoboken pier, with the Manhattan skyline rising brightly across the Hudson. From the William H. Miller collection. — *Statendam* glows under the night sky at Holland-America’s Hoboken pier, with the Manhattan skyline rising brightly across the Hudson. From the William H. Miller collection.

*Ryndam* is berthed at Holland-America’s Hoboken pier, a busy waterfront scene filled with small craft, cargo, and the working infrastructure of mid-century New York Harbor. From the William H. Miller collection.

A busy day at Holland-America Line’s Hoboken piers, where multiple liners berth side by side in the 1950s. From the William H. Miller collection.

Gangway moment captures passengers waving as they board a Holland America liner. From the William H. Miller collection. — Gangway moment captures passengers waving as they board a Holland-America liner. From the William H. Miller collection.

A dream team from the Netherlands – Bernard (left) and Marc. Credit William H. Miller.

Holland-America shifted over to a brand new terminal, Pier 40 at West Houston Street [Manhattan], in 1963.

The Nieuw Amsterdam (left), Westerdam and Oranje together in 1963 at Pier 40, which brought a new era to the West Side waterfront. From the William H. Miller collection. — The *Nieuw Amsterdam* (left), *Westerdam* and Oranje together in 1963 at Pier 40, which brought a new era to the West Side waterfront. From the William H. Miller collection.

Then HAL moved again, in 1974, to the newly rebuilt Manhattan Passenger Ship Terminal – with the Rotterdam just docking.

Rotterdam approaches the Manhattan Passenger Ship Terminal. From the William H. Miller collection. — *Rotterdam* approaches the Manhattan Passenger Ship Terminal. From the William H. Miller collection.

The outbound Statendam below (1980). From the William H. Miller collectioon. — *Rotterdam* approaches the Manhattan Passenger Ship Terminal. From the William H. Miller collection.

NEW YORK: CITY & ITS PORT

I have been taking pictures from boyhood, from those long-ago rolls of black & white film on an Agfa camera, which was another gift from dear Aunt Lillian. My subjects were often New York City, its skyline – and especially and of course – the harbor and its ships. The Hoboken shoreline was my best vantage point.

Nieuw Amsterdam at Hoboken’s Fifth Street pier. Credit William H. Miller. — *Nieuw Amsterdam* at Hoboken’s Fifth Street pier. Credit William H. Miller.

As I recall, I was just under ten, in March 1957, when my Father took me down to the Fifth Street pier in Hoboken, especially to see the newly repainted Nieuw Amsterdam. That beautiful ship had just returned from a big refit looking quite different. It now had a gray (instead of black) hull. I was excited – and intrigued. Dressed in flags for the occasion, the ship looked immaculate (see above). It was my very first picture – and it has survived in my collection.

Since then, I have collected thousands of photos of the City, its harbor and its ships. I’d like to share some.