When the Dutch navy wanted to adapt screw propulsion in about 1852, these state shipyards could not handle the work.

In 1855 Navy minister de Smit van den Broecke then dared to order some ships at private shipyards.

The main reason to contract with Fijenoord had been that the minister acknowledged that the machinery was the crucial aspect of a screw ship.

Therefore, Fijenoord subcontracted with Fop Smit, a famous shipyard that was also proficient in building wooden ships.

[10] Groningen was commissioned on 1 July 1857[3] On 28 December 1857 made a trial run, attained a speed of 8.25 knots.

On 30 July 1857 William, Prince of Orange (1840–1879) left The Hague by train, and with the royal steam yacht he arrived alongside Groningen at about 5 PM.

On 10 August the prince visited the Reales Astilleros de Esteiro (Ferrol state shipyard), the docks, and was at a grand dinner at the admiral's.

On the 13th, there was a big parade of 5,400 soldiers, after which Groningen left Valencia, and the Prince went the visit the Spanish court at Madrid.

After Wassenaar had again joined Groningen, the prince and the officers of both ships visited the Teatro di San Carlo on 4 October.

[38] Just before reaching Batavia, Groningen had been caught in a heavy tropical cyclone 175 miles south of Sunda Strait.

On 2 June Groningen left for Telukbetung (Bandar Lampung) and the coast of Sumatra on Sunda Strait.

It consisted of the warships: Groningen, Celebes, Onrust and Van Kinsbergen, and the government ship Bennett, all commanded by Courier dit Dubekart.

The troops were the 1st, 3rd and 4th company of the 12th infantry battalion, and an artillery detachment, all commanded by Major van Langen.

At Muara Kumpeh it was reinforced with 13 vessels, and on 2 September it anchored at the Sedingjang Islands before Jambi city.

The navy would participate with: Groningen, Gedeh, Amsterdam, Merapi, Phoenix, Madura, Celebes, Van Kinsbergen, Medusa, 3 schooners and 6 cruising vessels under the overall command of Captain B.H.

On 12 February part of the expedition landed and took Bajoe, just east of the capital Boni, now officially named Watampone.

It was supposed to have led to the dismissal of the local commanders Colonel Waleson and Captain Staring, who later proved to have been ill for a long time.

[62] In the night of 15–16 March, the hurricane increased, and the chains of both rudder-stoppers snapped, forcing Groningen again to steer with the rudder stock.

Near the end of April a sufficiently large oak-like piece of wood suitable for a new rudder had been found inland and transported to Nagasaki.

Meanwhile, the situation at Yokohama had calmed down a lot since the assassination of the Dutch commodores De Vos and Dekker.

[65] After some diplomatic maneuvering, the governor received Captain-lt van der Meersch in his palace on 4 July.

Back at Yokohama, Groningen helped the Dutch Barque Krimpen aan de Lek, commander Ouwehand.

[71] On 21 November the commissioner met the crown prince, the minister of foreign affairs, and chief of staff.

The prime minister Somdet Chaophraya Sri Suriwongse spoke English, and was versed in naval sciences.

He had founded a large merchant navy, and was busy completing the construction of a 120 feet steam paddle vessel with an American engine.

This was a costly operation, the coal, guns, excess anchors and chains, iron water boxes, the upper rigging and all other heavy stores had to be removed.

[4] In October 1863 the Dutch House of Representatives noted that the navy had been not been very successful in acquiring ships, regardless of whether they had been built by the state shipyards or by private enterprise.

[93] Shipyard Fop Smit pointed out that Groningen had been built according to the plans, and under direct surveillance by navy representatives.

[94] The fate of Groningen's sister ships (see Groningen-class corvette) would confirm Fop Smit's opinion.

A very likely explanation for the short service span of Groningen and her sisters is the lack of dry dock facilities in the East Indies.