Exhibit 99.1



Ahold signs new                              Highlights:
unsecured credit facility                    > EUR 2 billion facility
                                             > Five-year term


          Zaandam, The Netherlands, May 18, 2005 - Ahold today announced it has
          signed a new credit facility with a syndicate of fifteen banks.

          The five-year EUR 2,000,000,000 unsecured syndicated multi-currency
          facility will be used for general corporate purposes and for the
          issuance of letters of credit.

          The margin is 75 bps, which is subject to a pricing grid based on
          Ahold's credit rating. The facility is subject to a leverage covenant,
          which falls away when the corporate rating is BBB/Baa2 or better.

          Commenting on the new credit facility, Ahold CFO Hannu Ryopponen said:
          "This is an important day for Ahold and our Road to Recovery program.
          This new facility is another achievement in our return to strong
          financial health and shows the financial community is increasingly
          regarding Ahold as a credit-worthy company."

          Ahold announced on February 15, 2005, that it had terminated the
          three-year revolving December 2003 credit facility and was in
          discussions with financial institutions to establish a new credit
          facility at more favorable terms and conditions.

          Ahold Corporate Communications: +31.75.659.5720

          Disclaimer
          Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking
          statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. These
          forwardlooking statements include, but are not limited to, statements
          relating to the use of proceeds from the new credit facility. These
          forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and
          other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
          from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking
          statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to
          differ materially from the information set forth in these
          forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the delay
          or failure to satisfy any of the conditions for borrowing under the
          new credit facility and other factors, many of which are discussed in
          Ahold's public filings. Many of these factors are beyond Ahold's
          ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, readers are
          cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking
          statements, which only speak as of the date of this press release.
          Ahold does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any
          revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or
          circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the
          occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as may be
          required under applicable securities laws. Outside The Netherlands,
          Koninklijke Ahold N.V., being its registered name, presents itself
          under the name of "Royal Ahold" or simply "Ahold."

                                                                       2005018

[Graphic omitted] Ahold
www.ahold.com


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