On 1 December 1858 the Dutch government determined that the next screw steamship first class to be built at the Rijkswerf in Amsterdam would be named Djambi in order to remember the recent war in the area of Jambi.

[5] On 1 June 1861 Djambi was put into service at Nieuwediep under the command of Captain-lt Marin Henri Jansen,[6] known as author of De omwenteling in het zeewezen and other naval works.

It was to go to the West Indies and join the screw steamship Cornelis Dirks and the schooner Atalante, which were already in Curaçao.

While workmen were preparing for her entrance, the bottom of the dock suddenly ripped open, causing enormous damage.

[13] The next plan was to have the sailing frigate Alexander leave the old Willemsoord Dry Dock I on 6 October so Djambi could enter.

[17] With much trouble Djambi had saved the dismasted English Schooner Orlando by towing it from Hinder Bank to Dover Roads.

[20] In a storm on 19 and 20 December she had lost sails, an anchor and chain, as well as sustaining damage to boats, stove and machines.

Captain van Rees held a dinner party, and the officers offered a lunch to some of the inhabitants, with music and some dancing afterwards.

She sailed straight to the lightship, and after taking on a pilot, she continued and anchored about 2.5 miles from the Semaphore jetty in five fathoms of water.

Soon followed by the Port Adelaide volunteer artillery returning the salute with her field pieces, even though these were hardly heard on board Djambi because of the western wind.

However, a short description was given to the public:[30] (Djambi is) a fine specimen of naval architecture, though not perhaps one of the modern school.

The Djambi is a vessel such as would rate in the British navy as an 18-gun frigate, and though said to be but 1,200 tons register, she looks very much larger than any ship we have had here for many years, and especially when boarding her is this the case, for having a flush deck fore and aft, the extreme dimensions over all are taken at a glance, which from the bridge is to the uninitiated, very imposing, as there are six 30-pounders and two rifled 60-pounders on each side, while on the bridge are two pieces of ordnance of lower caliber.

The only obstruction on deck is the galley and funnel, which is a huge telescopic affair that may be elevated half way to the main-top, but when not required diminishes until but a limited height above the hammock settings.

The state cabin is directly before the mizzen-mast and the fore-side of that is the midshipmen's berth: then the 'tween decks forward furnishes quarters for the crew, who, with marines, make a total of 223 men.

In her appointments there is no extraneous ornamentation, everything being suited more for utility than display, and in some instances there are evidences of her being astern in the march of improvement.

The steam vessel Young Australian arrived from the wharf with the rest of the party, which consisted of the consuls of various nations, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Attorney General etc.

On board an awning with sides had been spanned over the rear half of the ship, enclosing the space, which had been decorated with flags and flowers.

On Monday 4 May half the crew of Djambi would visit the copper mines and smelting works at Kapunda by train, accompanied by their officers.

At three o'clock in the afternoon of Monday 4 May Commander van Rees was present while the foundation stone for Adelaide Town Hall was laid.

In the evening the Chief Secretary George Waterhouse, Premier of South Australia gave a big dinner at Parliament House.

On 11 November the Medusa arrived in Nagasaki, and after Van Rees took overall command of the ships, Djambi continued to Yokohama.

Captain-lt van Rees of Djambi was chosen to command the Dutch landing division of 240 sailors and marines.

Djambi however was undergoing small repairs at Onrust on 14 June, and was designated for temporary reinforcement of the bases in Riouw.

After the Resident of Riouw came on board, Djambi left for Bengkalis, Siak and Deli, accompanied by the Montrado, Delfzijl and Dassoen.

On 22 July 1870 the Willem, Aart van Nes and Djambi left for Madjene (Celebes) to remind the sultan he had to offer his respects in Makassar.

Together with the steam corvettes Curacao and Willem, the sloop Marnix, and the paddle steamers Sumatra and Amsterdam she would have to impress the king of Thailand during his visit.

The Dutch assembled a relatively large force of 6 warships (Djambi, Citadel van Antwerpen, Marnix, Surabaya, Sumatra and Coehoorn), and about 3,000 men.

In early September Djambi ran into a violent storm that lasted for 7 days east of the Cape of Good Hope.

In late November rumors that the transport ship Java was being prepared to retrieve the men and inventory of the Djambi "declared unfit" at the Cape surfaced in the media.

[74] A message dated Cape Town 14 April stated that Djambi had been sold for 1,765 GBP (21,000 florins) to a Mr.