HNLMS De Ruyter (F804) (Dutch Hr. Ms. De Ruyter) is the third De Zeven Provinciën class

De Zeven Provinciën class frigate

The De Zeven Provinciën class frigates are highly advanced air-defence and command frigates in service with the Koninklijke Marine . This class of ships is also known as LCF...

 frigate

Frigate

A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

 of the Royal Netherlands Navy

Royal Netherlands Navy

The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...

. It was laid down in 2000, launched in 2002, and commissioned in 2004. The frigate is named after the famous Dutch

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 admiral

Admiral

Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...

 Michiel de Ruyter

Michiel de Ruyter

Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter is the most famous and one of the most skilled admirals in Dutch history. De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. He fought the English and French and scored several major victories against them, the best known probably...

 (1607–1676).

The frigate should not be mistaken with the former Hr. Ms. De Ruyter (F806), which was a Tromp class frigate build in the 1970s, nor the current BAP Almirante Grau

BAP Almirante Grau

Four ships of the Peruvian Navy have borne the name BAP Almirante Grau, after the Peruvian Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario.*The first BAP Almirante Grau was a protected cruiser built in the United Kingdom; it was commissioned in 1907 and decommissioned in 1958*The second BAP Almirante Grau was the...

, a Peruvian gun cruiser that was known as the De Ruyter while in Dutch service.

As of 19 november 2010, Commander Richard Keulen is HNLMS De Ruyter's commanding officer. Previously it was commanded by Commander Jeanette Morang. She was the first woman to command a Netherlands Navy frigate.