ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
With Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian
“Memories
of the JVO
MS
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
The Pride of the
The Christiaan
Huygens
JVO being launched on Saturday 3 August 1929.
The JVO and the Marnix seen side by side
during their fitting out.
The JVO's sister
ship, MS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde was launched on 21 December 1929. Dimensions of
the MS Johan van Oldenbarnevelt and Marnix van Sint Aldegonde were 608 x 74.8ft
(185.4 X 22.8m) with a gross tonnage of 19,040, with a displacement of 24,993
tons. At the time, these two would be the largest Dutch ships ever to be built
and were the most luxurious liners to be placed on the international trade
route to the
Postcard of the Marnix Sint Aldegonde
Postcard of the JVO in her original appearance
JVO’s Sulzer diesel engines
The famed artist Carel
Adolph Lion Cachet (1864-1945) and sculptor Lambertus
Zijl (1866-947) created the fine interiors of the
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. Lion Cachet designed his first SMN interior for the
Grotius, back in 1906 and had since undertaken many other projects for the
company. He took a delight in using the finest timbers and mixing them with tin
and marble. Décor throughout the ship reflected the colonial links of the
As built, the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt had seven passenger decks. Her four classes offered a new level of comfort for her day. Her deck space was vast and featured a unique swimming pool and bar on Sports deck directly in front of the forward funnel.
The pool could be enclosed with a unique sliding glass roof that would be opened upon reaching warmer climates. This was one of the first retractable pool enclosures on a liner, which has become a popular feature on modern cruise ships. In 1998 the P&O Princess Lines, super liner, the 109,000 tonne Grand Princess features a three story high retractable "Clear Crystal Dome" over the Calypso Reef and Pool. The Johan van Oldenbarnevelt and her sister ship were without doubt innovative for their time?
A deck was mainly occupied with
accommodations for the ships officers, including the Captain's quarters with a
fully equipped hospital located aft. B deck was chiefly occupied with first
class cabins. Located just aft of the cabins, was the first class nursery and
deck space. A second class sports deck being located further aft. C deck
featured the main public rooms and the spacious promenade deck for both first
and second-class passengers.
First Class Smoking Room
Public rooms on the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
were elegantly decorated in an
On the port side just aft of the Smoking
Room, was the
Aft again, was the main foyer and grand stairwell up to B deck and down to F deck and the first class Restaurant. The fine timber stairwell and large vestibules on all decks gave an impression grace and of space. On the starboard side was the JVO's only passenger lift. The next room was the Music Hall or Grand Social Hall. This spacious lounge was two decks high and featured fine lead light panels on the upper level. These were lit from behind and were a decorative feature in the first class passageways up on B deck. The ceiling of the Social Room was covered in beaten copper with stainless steel stylised chandeliers cascading down.
Social Hall
and Music Salon
This room was lined in fine padouk and featured dark stained teak doors opening forward
to the main foyer and grand stairwell. This room also featured many panels with
many fine carvings. One unique carving by Zijl was
forward over the games cupboard with the name of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
carved in script form. Other carvings that lined the walls and side dividing
partitions near the bay windows featured Javanese women, a variety of fauna and
insects, which are found throughout
Just aft of amidships were the second class lounges, comprising the Music Saloon, Smoking Room and bar and a nursery further aft. These lounges also featured timbered panels highlighting their unique grain rather than the fancy carvings of first class. Yet, these were elegant yet bright and airy rooms with large windows to promenade deck. The Smoking Room featured the timbered stairwell leading down to the accommodations and the beautiful second class Dining Room. Between first and second class there was a deck area covering the full width of the ship. It served as a unique open deck area, being outdoors, yet undercover. This area was often used for entertainment purposes for both classes as required.
Further accommodation was located on D and E decks with another second class Lounge on D deck. The two main Dining Rooms were located on F deck. First class could seat 270, and second 315. The third class lounge space and dining room were located on D deck with the dining room providing seating for 64. Third class deck space was aft on C and D decks. Accommodation, dining room, and a small lounge for sixty fourth class passengers was located forward near the crew quarters on F deck, with deck space provided on the fo’c’sle. Soon she would accommodate only three classes with fourth class being withdrawn. Five cargo holds were capable of holding over 1,000 tons of cargo and were served by 12 - 3-ton "Stork Hijsch" deck cranes located on the upper decks.
On F deck, the first class Restaurant was a grand and distinctive room, being two decks high in the centre. It featured a fine balustrade and had a bandstand in an alcove on the upper level being E deck. In the evening, diners would enjoy the gentle strains of music provided by the ship's orchestra. The Restaurant, like all first class public rooms, featured fine timbers with panels sporting marble and, rather modern for its day, stainless steel inlays. All cabins on the JVO had portholes, a much needed item those days, especially when reaching warmer climates. Those cabins, which today would be considered to be inside, had a long narrow passage leading to the porthole, allowing light and fresh air to reach the interior cabin. Later in her career she was fitted with much needed forced air to all accommodation.
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt looked typical for her day when it comes to colour scheme. A black hull, white superstructure with two British style short flat-topped funnels, painted buff with black tops. She looked impressive with her two tall masts as she departed on her Maiden voyage on Tuesday 6 May 1930.
A classical JVO, at full speed
However, this voyage was short lived.
Whilst still in the North Sea canal, heading for
For nine years, she sailed the
companies’ route
JVO Index
Introduction Remembering the JVO
Chapter 1 The New Pride of the
Chapter 2 JVO the Trooper
Chapter 3 A New Service
Chapter 4 New Lease of Life
Chapter 5 JVO the Cruise Ship
Chapter 6 Goodbye JVO
Chapter 7 Cruise Ship TSMS Lakonia
Chapter 8 Lakonia's Final Voyage
Chapter 9 The End is Near
Chapter 10 Conclusion
Passenger stories
Page One Boelen Family –
The night the JVO almost went down
Page Two Laszlo
Pal – A Voyage to
Page Three William Hamlyn – 1945 Royal Signalman’s voyage home from wartime duties
Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
If you have enjoyed this article, and you feel you might have something of interest to add, be it a story or some photographs, I would appreciate hearing from you.
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