The Groote Beer, The Waterman and the Zuiderkruis, were owned by the Dutch government but were
managed by private shipping companies. The Groote Beer by the Holland-America Line, the Waterman by
Nederland Line and the Zuiderkruis by Royal Rotterdam Lloyd.
The ships were fitted with passenger accommodations for about 800 in a single class, with large dormitories
outnumbering conventional cabins. The Groote Beer averaged 13 voyages to North America during its
years of service as an emigrant ship. The other two made the North America run during the summer months
only, averaging 5 trips each. Voyages were also made to Australia & South Africa.
Waterman Built 1945 to 1963 as a sister of Zuiderkruis and Groote Beer used as
a troopship until 1952 when rebuilt as an emigrant carrier. Operated to Australia
until sold to John Latsis in 1963. Withdrawn and scrapped 1969/70.
The Holland-America Line wasn’t the only shipping company known for ushering
in the age of the Great Ships, but it has remained perhaps the most cherished
of all. Take the summer of 1939, on the eve of the Second World War. Cunard White
Star was the biggest, followed by the French Line, Hamburg-America Line, the North
German Lloyd and exclusively based in the Mediterranean, the Italian Line. What
set the Dutch ships apart? Well, it was more than their recognizable yellow and
white funnels ringed with green stripes. Known, as the "spotless fleet", the manners
of the crew were as impeccable as their housekeeping. An old world grace reigned,
and luxurious
first-class accommodations to be sure, but "steerage"
was now a thing of the past and comfortable second
and even third class quarters were now the rule.
The Transatlantic run between Rotterdam, the Channel ports (Le Havre and Southampton) and New York was
very popular……so popular in fact that a Grand Dame like The Nieuw Amsterdam setting out from
Hoboken’’s Fifth Street Pier on a typical Friday afternoon, might be seen lowering her gangplanks at
the last minute for the Windsors, the Presidential entourage, or film star Marlene Dietrich.
"The Big Three" (The Nieuw Amsterdam, The Rotterdam, and The Statendam ) gave rise
to the Holland-American Line slogan, "It’’s good to be on a well-run
ship" but there was another cause for celebration. The company initiated a highly
successful part-time cruise line. Usually sailing from New York, these grand
ships sailed to exotic ports around the world Bermuda, Java in the Dutch East
Indies, South America, the Mediterranean and in summer Scandinavia. The company’’s
shipping alliances brought them even more renown. In association with the Dutch-owned
KPM, they took control of the Oranje Line, originally an Eastern Canada, Great
Lakes run. Assorted passenger ships carrying students, the budget-conscious
tourist and immigrants also came under their control.
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