Nieuw Amsterdam

SS Nieuw Amsterdam was a Dutch ocean liner built for the Holland America Line, formally known as the Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij. Although the vessel was completed in 1938, its keel had been laid in Rotterdam in January 1936. It was the second Holland America Line ship to carry the name Nieuw Amsterdam, which referred to the former Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, the settlement that became New York. Constructed by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, the ship was the largest vessel ever built in the Netherlands at the time of its completion and the largest in Holland America Line's fleet. It succeeded Statendam as the company's flagship and was promoted domestically as the Netherlands' national or "state" ship, comparable in symbolic importance to prominent national liners such as Normandie, Queen Mary and Rex. The vessel was designed to combine modern engineering with a refined Art Deco environment. Its interiors used pastel colors, aluminum detailing, fluorescent lighting and elaborate materials including gold leaf, satinwood, Moroccan leather and Delftware tile. Fifteen architects and approximately fifty artists contributed to the interior scheme. Nieuw Amsterdam entered service on the Rotterdam–Hoboken route in May 1938. Westbound sailings generally called at Boulogne and Southampton, while eastbound voyages called at Plymouth and Boulogne. The ship was not the largest or fastest liner on the North Atlantic, but its spacious design, high level of passenger comfort and distinctive interiors attracted a loyal clientele. It had accommodation for approximately 1,220 passengers across first, second and third class, and was notable for features that were advanced for the period, including extensive air conditioning, a large number of first-class cabins with private bathrooms, two swimming pools and an air-conditioned theater. The ship's peacetime schedule was seasonal. During the main transatlantic season it connected Europe and North America; in winter it undertook cruises, especially to the Caribbean, and twice made long cruises around South America. Its early commercial career was disrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War. In September 1939, after the United Kingdom and France began their blockade of Germany, the ship was detained in the English Channel for a contraband inspection. Copper intended for Germany was found in its cargo, and several German passengers and crew members were detained. A short-lived Bermuda service later that year attracted too few passengers and was discontinued. Following the German invasion and occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, Nieuw Amsterdam was laid up in New York and subsequently converted for Allied military use. Approximately 2,000 tons of furnishings were removed, passenger spaces were converted into berths for as many as 6,800 troops, windows and portholes were blacked out, and defensive weapons were installed. From 1940 to 1946 it served as an Allied troopship, operating mainly in the Indian Ocean but also making voyages in the Atlantic and, at times, the Pacific. After postwar restoration, Nieuw Amsterdam returned to civilian service and resumed its role as a transatlantic liner and cruise ship. As scheduled liner traffic declined and cruising became more important, its deployment gradually shifted toward leisure voyages. By 1969 it was cruising from Port Everglades, Florida. In 1971 the ship ended its scheduled transatlantic crossings and operated exclusively as a cruise ship. It was withdrawn from service at the end of 1973 and scrapped in Taiwan in 1974.

Holland America Line planned Nieuw Amsterdam as a major addition to its transatlantic fleet. The company initially considered the name Prinsendam, but changed it during construction to Nieuw Amsterdam, reviving a name previously used by an earlier Holland America Line ship. The new vessel was built by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij in Rotterdam as yard number 200. Its keel was laid on January 3, 1936, Queen Wilhelmina launched the ship on April 10, 1937, and the completed liner was delivered to Holland America Line on April 23, 1938. At 758 feet overall, Nieuw Amsterdam was the largest ship built in the Netherlands and the largest vessel ever ordered by Holland America Line at the time. Its machinery consisted of six water-tube boilers and eight steam turbines driving twin propellers. During trials in March 1938 it reached 21.5 knots, while its normal service speed was approximately 20 knots. Passenger capacity was about 1,220, divided among first, second and third class, with substantial cargo and refrigerated-storage capacity. The vessel's public identity depended as much on its design as on its size. Huibert Prins led the design, while a large team of architects and artists created an Art Deco interior. The ship featured broad public rooms, two swimming pools, an air-conditioned theater, extensive air conditioning and unusually comprehensive private bathroom facilities in first class. Its theater was among the earliest shipboard theaters designed for both live performance and film presentation. These features helped position Nieuw Amsterdam as a modern, comfortable and distinctly Dutch flagship rather than as a direct attempt to compete with the largest and fastest liners operated by other European nations. Nieuw Amsterdam began its maiden voyage from Rotterdam to Hoboken on May 10, 1938. Its regular route linked Rotterdam with the New York area, using European port calls on both directions. In winter, when North Atlantic passenger traffic was less predictable, the ship was used for cruises. Its first winter schedule included Caribbean voyages and a 48-day circumnavigation of South America in early 1939. The ship quickly acquired a favorable reputation and, together with Statendam, was among the relatively few profitable liners in the difficult passenger market of the late 1930s. The international crisis of 1939 affected both the ship's operations and its public role. In September, the vessel carried an unusually large number of passengers, including refugees, on arrival at Hoboken. During the return voyage it was stopped by the Royal Navy for a contraband inspection after the outbreak of war. A large shipment of copper associated with Germany was discovered, and German nationals among the passengers and crew were detained. A later attempt to operate weekly between Hoboken and Bermuda was commercially unsuccessful. Holland America Line instead used the ship for winter Caribbean cruises until the German invasion of the Netherlands forced a more fundamental change. Nieuw Amsterdam was laid up in New York in May 1940. Later that year it underwent conversion to military transport. Furnishings were removed and stored, passenger accommodation was replaced by troop berths for up to approximately 6,800 people, the windows and portholes were blacked out, and a defensive armament was installed. From October 1940 through 1946 the ship served Allied military requirements. Its speed enabled it to make many voyages without an escort. Its wartime movements included the Indian Ocean, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Atlantic and occasional Pacific operations. After the war, the ship was restored to civilian use and resumed transatlantic and cruise operations. Over the following decades the commercial environment changed as air travel reduced demand for scheduled ocean crossings. Nieuw Amsterdam increasingly became a cruise vessel. By 1969 it was operating cruises from Port Everglades, Florida, and in 1971 its scheduled transatlantic service ended entirely. The ship was withdrawn at the end of 1973 and scrapped in Taiwan in 1974, bringing to a close the career of one of the Netherlands' most important prewar passenger ships.

• 1974

  Scrapped in Taiwan

  [1]SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)en.wikipedia.org

  After withdrawal at the end of 1973, the ship was dismantled in Taiwan.

• 1971

  Transatlantic crossings end

  [1]SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)en.wikipedia.org

  Nieuw Amsterdam stopped scheduled transatlantic service and operated exclusively as a cruise ship.

• 1969

  Cruising from Port Everglades

  [1]SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship was operating cruises from Port Everglades, Florida, as its role shifted away from traditional liner service.

• 1946

  Troopship service ends

  [1]SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)en.wikipedia.org

  The vessel's period as an Allied troopship concluded, after which it returned to civilian operation.

• 1940

  Civilian service suspended

  [1]SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)en.wikipedia.org

  After the invasion of the Netherlands, Nieuw Amsterdam returned to New York and was laid up before conversion for Allied military transport.

• 1939

  South America circumnavigation cruise

  [1]SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship completed a 48-day cruise around South America, covering approximately 14,000 nautical miles.

• 1938

  Delivered and enters service

  [1]SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)en.wikipedia.org

  Holland America Line accepted the completed ship on April 23, and its maiden voyage began on May 10.

• 1937

  Launched by Queen Wilhelmina

  [1]SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship was launched in Rotterdam on April 10, 1937.

• 1936

  Keel laid in Rotterdam

  [1]SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)en.wikipedia.org

  Construction began at Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij on January 3, 1936.

A prestigious Dutch national flagship and premium ocean liner combining Art Deco design, modern passenger amenities and transatlantic service.

• Passenger shipping · 1938

  Transatlantic passenger service

  Nieuw Amsterdam's principal civilian role before and after the Second World War was carrying passengers between Rotterdam and Hoboken, New Jersey. The service used European port calls and offered multiple passenger classes, substantial public rooms and a level of comfort intended to establish the ship as Holland America Line's flagship.

• Cruise shipping · 1938

  Caribbean cruises

  The ship operated seasonal cruises from the New York area to Caribbean destinations including Havana, Miami, Saint Thomas, Curaçao, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello and Port-au-Prince. Cruising complemented its seasonal North Atlantic schedule and later became its sole commercial role.

• Cruise shipping · 1939

  South America cruises

  Nieuw Amsterdam made long-distance South American voyages, including a 48-day circumnavigation in early 1939. These cruises demonstrated the vessel's ability to serve as a destination in its own right rather than solely as scheduled transport between Europe and North America.

• Military transport · 1940

  Allied troop transport

  During the Second World War, the liner was converted to carry Allied troops. Its civilian interiors were largely removed, passenger spaces were reorganized for military accommodation, the ship was blacked out and defensive guns were installed. It served mainly around the Indian Ocean, with additional Atlantic and Pacific operations.

• 1971

  End scheduled transatlantic serviceStrategy

  Background

  The growth of commercial air travel weakened the traditional market for long-distance passenger liners.

  Action taken

  The ship was removed from scheduled transatlantic service and retained only for cruising.

  Aftermath

  The vessel remained in cruise use until its withdrawal at the end of 1973.

  Source

• 1940

  Convert the liner for Allied military transportStrategy

  Background

  The German occupation of the Netherlands made normal Dutch transatlantic operations impossible.

  Action taken

  The ship was laid up in New York and converted into a troopship with military berthing, blackout modifications and defensive armament.

  Aftermath

  Nieuw Amsterdam served Allied troop movements from 1940 until 1946.

  Source

• 1939

  Shift from regular liner operations to seasonal cruisingStrategy

  Background

  Wartime insurance costs and declining certainty in North Atlantic travel disrupted the normal Rotterdam–Hoboken schedule.

  Action taken

  Holland America Line experimented with a Bermuda service and then scheduled a series of Caribbean cruises from Hoboken.

  Aftermath

  The Bermuda experiment ended because bookings were inadequate, while Caribbean cruising became an important alternative deployment.

  Source

• 1937

  Rename the vessel Nieuw AmsterdamStrategy

  Background

  Holland America Line initially planned to name the new ship Prinsendam, but changed the name during construction.

  Action taken

  The company selected Nieuw Amsterdam, linking the flagship to the Dutch colonial settlement that became New York and to an earlier Holland America Line vessel.

  Aftermath

  The name reinforced the ship's Dutch national identity and its commercial connection between the Netherlands and the New York region.

  Source

1. 1SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)en.wikipedia.org