Douwe Aukes was returned to the Royal Netherlands Navy following the war and was used as a depot ship until sold for scrap in 1962.

The minelayers were powered by steam from two Yarrow boilers to two vertical triple expansion engines each turning a shaft.

[3] With the German invasion of the Netherlands in 1940, and the defeat of the nation, Douwe Aukes and Van Merleent both sailed for the United Kingdom in May.

[3] Douwe Aukes was converted to a convoy escort leader and transferred to Royal Navy service on 29 April 1941.

[2][3] Van Merleent did not survive much longer when on 4 June 1941, the vessel was mined and sunk in the Thames River estuary.