Built in 1937 for the Holland America Line, Nieuw Amsterdam was then a state-of-the-art cruise liner, This postcard portrait celebrates her maiden voyage in May 1938. In the year following her maiden voyage, the outbreak of World War II led to her requisition by the British government as a troopship. She served faithfully through the war, and returned afterwards to a long and distinguished civilian service, eventually being broken up in 1974. For her troopship service, see the copies of the troops' magazine, "The Queue Ship".