The submarine was laid down on 17 September 1962 at the Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard in Schiedam and launched on 12 January 1965.

[2] In January 1968 Potvis and Dolfijn left the port of Den Helder for a war simulation in the northern Atlantic Ocean that would last 5 weeks.

[2] From October until November 1976 Potvis and the tender Mercuur perform torpedo system trials at Andros, Bahamas.

[2] From 2 to 21 July 1978 Potvis, Dolfijn, Zeehond and Zwaardvis practiced firing exercises.

[2] On 18 June 1992 she was finally decommissioned and broken up 1994, wearing a special ceremony painting of a Sperm whale.