SS Statendam III’s Epic Journey: 1927–1940 in Brilliant Color!

This captivating colorized footage unveils the SS Statendam III, a majestic cruise ship of the Holland America Line (HAL), from 1927 to 1940—nearly a century ago—chronicling its remarkable journey from construction to tragic demise. Filmed in vibrant hues as a silent documentary, the film captures key moments: the ship’s hull, built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast in 1919, lying dormant until 1927, then towed to Schiedam, Netherlands, for completion by Wilton Fijenoord, with its first trial run depicted; the official handover on April 4, 1929, with HRH Prince Hendrik, Dutch ministers, and Rotterdam mayor Patijn aboard during sea trials; and the ship’s maiden voyage to New York on April 11, 1929, followed by transatlantic crossings and cruises. The footage also shows the Statendam’s final voyage to New York in November 1939, its layup at Rotterdam’s Wilhelminakade, and its fiery destruction during the German invasion on May 10–11, 1940, when Dutch soldiers battled occupying forces, leaving the ship a total loss, later scrapped in August 1940. A poignant window into pre-war maritime history and wartime tragedy, this restored archive grips history buffs, maritime enthusiasts, and Dutch heritage lovers, offering a vivid glimpse of the SS Statendam III’s legacy frozen in time.