SS Nieuw Amsterdam ( 1937 ) The Nieuw Amsterdam was a Dutch ocean liner built in Rotterdam for the Holland America Line . This " Nieuw Amsterdam " , the second of four Holland America ships with that name , is considered by many to have been Holland America ' s finest ship . Construction and launch . Originally she was to be named " Prinsendam " , however during construction , Holland America Line decided to name their new flagship " Nieuw Amsterdam " , in honor of the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam , modern day New York . Construction on the new liner was carried out at the N . V . Rotterdam Drydock Company . Christened by Queen Wilhelmina in April 1937 , " Nieuw Amsterdam " was , at 36 , 982 tonnes , the largest liner ever constructed in the Netherlands up to that time . Proudly she was dubbed the Dutch " Ship of peace " since there were no provisions for possible war use incorporated in her design . Interior . The " Nieuw Amsterdam " was the Netherlands ' " ship of state " , just as the " Normandie " was France ' s , the " Queen Mary " was Britain ' s and " United States " was the United States ' , and numerous Dutch artists vied for the honor of creating some part of the ship . Their creation emerged in the spring of 1938 , a light - colored and very spacious ship throughout , and although she had spacious public rooms , the colour scheme used gave her an even larger feel . Modern in every way , her owners proclaimed her " the ship of tomorrow " . She followed the Art Deco trend of the day in both interior decorations and exterior design . The interiors were distinguished by fluorescent lighting , aluminum motifs , and gentle pastels throughout the ship that created an understated elegance that would make the liner a favorite among seasoned transatlantic passengers . One of the ship ’ s centerpieces was the first class restaurant , having a Moroccan leather ceiling which was adorned by numerous Murano glass light fixtures , and columns covered in gold leaf . Tinted mirrors , ivory walls and satinwood furniture all contributed to create the luxurious atmosphere . The restaurant had no portholes or windows facing the open sea , making it depend solely on artificial illumination . This might sound a bit odd , but it was just the same in the first class restaurant on board the fabulous " Normandie " of 1935 . There also were two swimming pools on board , one outdoor and the other indoors on E - deck . It featured expensive Delft tiling which was an impressive sight . Passengers must have found it difficult to believe they were at sea when in the air - conditioned First Class Theater . The deeply cushioned seats commanded an unobstructed view of the stage , and the egg - shaped contour of the auditorium took advantage of the latest in scientific sound - proofing materials and amplifying equipment to ensure perfect acoustics for concerts , dramatic performances and pre - release motion pictures . Found at the front end of the Theatre was a striking mural in red , black and gold by Reyer Stolk . The " Nieuw Amsterdam " was the second ship in the world after the " Normandie " to boast a theater , a feature the larger and faster " Queen Mary " did not have . A favorite rendezvous of many " Nieuw Amsterdam " passengers was the handsome First Class Smoking Room with its rich Circassian walnut paneling and deep , luxurious armchairs and settees . Flanked by two enclosed sun verandas extending to the sides of the ship , the Smoking Room had its own modern bar stocked with a connoisseur choice of fine liquors . First Class staterooms on the " Nieuw Amsterdam " were unusually attractive , ranging in size from cozy single person cabins to elaborate cabins - de - luxe . The handsome and modern decorative scheme made the cabins comfortable spots for daytime and evening relaxation . All First Class cabins on Nieuw Amsterdam had a private bathroom , a unique feature which no previous liner could boast . Early career . On April 23 , 1938 , the " Nieuw Amsterdam " set out on her sea trials , which were to take place on the North Sea . Testing her speed and manoeuvring capability , the new vessel turned out to be all that she was supposed to be . Upon her return from the sea trials , the " Nieuw Amsterdam " was transferred to Holland America ownership and officially registered in the Dutch merchant fleet . The sleek new liner ' s maiden voyage was set for May 10 , 1938 , and upon her arrival in New York she immediately won adulation and acclaim . Although she was neither as large or fast as many of her contemporaries , she was to be a popular liner for the Dutch and was showered with superlatives . Her sleek outline and two slim funnels provided a striking profile and she soon garnered a loyal following amid stiff competition from great liners such as Cunard ' s " Queen Mary " and the superb " Normandie " of the French Line . Despite the fierce competition , " Nieuw Amsterdam " proved to be one of the few money - making vessels of the day . Wartime service . The Netherlands ’ “ ship of peace ” was not to enjoy the praise lavished on her for long . After only seventeen voyages , " Nieuw Amsterdam " was laid up at Hoboken , New Jersey in 1939 after the German invasion of Poland . She would be idle for only a year , however , and was requisitioned by the British Ministry of Transport after Holland fell to Hitler ’ s armies . She would spend the remainder of the war years as a troop transport , despite the fact she had been constructed without the consideration of ever being used in a military capacity . During the course of the conflict she would transport over 350 , 000 troops and steam some before being returned to the Holland America Line in 1946 . Refitting the " Nieuw Amsterdam " . The " Nieuw Amsterdam " triumphantly returned to her home port of Rotterdam on April 10 , 1946 . Fifteen weeks were required to remove the troop fittings : the special kitchens , alarm systems , hammocks , and 36 guns . Then 2 , 000 tons of furniture and decorations were shipped to the Netherlands from wartime storage in San Francisco . The furnishings were for the most part in very poor condition , a result of six years of neglect . About 3 , 000 chairs and 500 tables were sent back to their original builders for reupholstering and refinishing . One quarter of the furnishings had to be replaced entirely . Factories and warehouses in Europe combed their supplies for materials and fabrics , much of which had been concealed from the Nazis during the occupation . Many smaller parts , such as hinges and clamps , had to be made by hand , since the machinery that once made them had been stolen or destroyed by the enemy . The entire rubber flooring was renewed , as was nearly all of the carpeting . All of the steel work was scaled and preserved and all piping cleaned . All ceilings and floors were removed ; all of the liners 374 bathrooms were rebuilt . In the passenger spaces the wood paneling , which had been scratched and mutilated , was sanded down to half its thickness and relacquered . All the cabin ' s closets and fixtures were replaced . The entire electrical wiring system was renewed . Having been painted over for blackouts and cracked in tropical climates , of glass was refurbished . Even the hand rails had to be repolished to eradicate thousands of carved initials . The project was monumental , because of the material shortages and the decline of the number of skilled craftsmen . On October 29 , 1947 , after 18 months at the shipyard , the " Nieuw Amsterdam " reentered transatlantic service . Over 100 liners were restored with similar efforts . Post war career and demise . The refit took eighteen months and cost more than her original construction , but on October 29 , 1947 , the " Nieuw Amsterdam " was finally back on the transatlantic run . Her passenger accommodations had been slightly altered , and the ship emerged with a gross tonnage some 400 tons larger than before , ending up at 36 , 667 . For the next twenty years " Nieuw Amsterdam " would enjoy a loyal following and financial success . Even when joined by a more contemporary fleet mate in 1959 , the " SS Rotterdam " , the " Nieuw Amsterdam " still commanded a loyal following and remained one of the most popular ships on the north Atlantic . Her several refits in the 1950s ensured she remained in top condition and continued service despite her being near thirty years of age . In 1967 severe boiler problems seemed to indicate an end to the venerable liner ’ s career , however new US Navy surplus boilers were installed during a sixteen week shipyard period at Wilton - Fijenoord in Schiedam and her career continued . In the same decade jet travel had made continued Atlantic passenger runs impractical , so " Nieuw Amsterdam " was shifted to cruising in the Caribbean . Soon escalating operating cost and competition from newer cruise vessels meant an end to the grand liner ’ s service career . " Nieuw Amsterdam " had been an enduring icon on the North Atlantic for the better part of three decades — certainly her refined interiors and impeccable service added much to her appeal . The ship sailed to the breakers in 1974 .