Holland America's third Statendam was laid down at Harland & Wolff,
Belfast, in 1921, but the progress of construction soon slowed, as new
United States immigration limitations dramatically changed the steerage
needs of all North Atlantic carriers. After her launch in September
1924, work stopped completely, she was moored at the yard's Deep
Water Wharf and laid idle for more than two years. Finally, in April
1927, after the Dutch government provided HAL with a state loan to
finish construction, Statendam was towed to Schiedam, where she was
completed by Wilton Fijenoord. On 11 April 1929, after eight years of
construction, Statendam made her long-delayed maiden voyage, on Holland
America's Rotterdam-New York service.
She remained in service for the next ten years, cruising from New York
to the Caribbean in the winter from 1930 on. She left Rotterdam on her
final North Atlantic crossing on 24 November 1939, and when she returned
to the Netherlands she was laid up there due to World War II.
Statendam caught fire during the German invasion of the Netherlands on
11 May 1940. According to Bonsor and Haws, she was set afire by the Dutch
to prevent the Germans from capturing her or using her as a strong hold.
According to Kludas, she was hit by German bombs. According to
Kohler she was caught in a crossfire between the two forces. In any
event, she was a total loss, and was scrapped in August.
