Vintage Shipping Souvenir SS NIEUW HOLLAND Teaspoon

SS Nieuw Holland was built for KPM (Koninklijke Paketvaart Mij) by the Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Co (Netherlands Shipbuilding Co) in Amsterdam. She was launched on December 1, 1927. After her completion on April 20 1928, she headed for Asia and commenced regular services from Malaya, via Singapore, Dutch East Indies (today’s Indonesia), to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Nieuw Holland and her newer sister, SS Nieuw Zealand, maintained a regular service between Australia and Asia until the outbreak of the war. These two KPM sisters were regarded as two of the most graceful pre-war liners to operate between Australia and Asia. A Dutch Postcard of the ship at Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) In 1940, Nieuw Holland headed for Melbourne where she was modified to become a troop transport ship for up to 1,000 troops. Upon completion she joined the Royal Navy, bur she continued to be operated by her Dutch crew. In 1947 KPN transferred Nieuw Holland to the newly formed Royal Interocean Lines (RIL), and she was sent to Hong Kong to be refitted. With her new livery of a black hull and funnels, having an emblem in the Dutch colours of red, white and blue with a gold crown set in the white that was shaped like a triangle. Broken-up March 1959. A nice souvenir teaspoon dating to post 1947 when RIL took her over..