Jaap Smit, King's Commissioner in the Province of Zuid-Holland, presented the certificate to Pieter van Oord, Van Oord's CEO, during an international symposium at the Laurenskerk in Rotterdam, where guests had gathered to mark the company's 150th anniversary.

"It is an honour to have the right to use the royal designation. It crowns the 150 years of entrepreneurship, spirit and perseverance displayed by my predecessors and all our employees today," said van Oord.

Founded 1868 Van Oord has grown into an international dredging, oil and gas infrastructure and offshore wind contractor. The fifth generation of the Van Oord family is now active in the company.