Laid down as the freighter Dinteldyk, the into S.S. Ryndam renamed vessel was completed in 1951 as a passenger liner. After a year she was followed by sister ship S.S. Maasdam. The ships were revolutionary and were called "the economy twins". Both ships have had a long and special career.

The Van Amstel class is a former ship class of six frigates that served as destroyer escorts of the Bostwick or Cannon class of the United States Navy. They were loaned to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1950 as part of the MDAP program. In 1967 they returned to the United States and were replaced by the Van Speijk class frigates.