The frigate was named after Dutch naval hero Piet Pieterszoon Hein.

[1] HNLMS Piet Hein was built at KM de Schelde in Vlissingen.

[1] On 8 February 1982, the ship, with the frigates Tromp, Callenburgh, Van Speijk, the destroyer Overijssel and the replenishment ship Zuiderkruis, departed from Den Helder for a trip to the United States to show the flag and for 200 years diplomatic relations.

[1] The ship was commissioned on 27 June 1998 to the United Arab Emirates Navy where the vessel was renamed Al Emirat.

Construction work started in 2009 to rebuild the ship into a yacht named Yas.