She was laid down on 22 May 1940 as a British N-class destroyer and launched on 25 June 1941 as HMS Nonpareil, but on 27 May 1942, she was transferred to the Royal Dutch Navy.

Escort duties continued through October until her deployment for convoy defence between Sydney and Fremantle, under the control of the United States 7th Fleet.

[6][7][8] Between 18 and 24 February 1943, she was deployed with sister ship Van Galen and cruisers HMAS Adelaide and HNLMS Tromp to escort a troop convoy between Fremantle and Melbourne (Operation Pamphlet; this military convoy was carrying the 9th Australian Division, recalled from the Middle East in response to the apparent Japanese threat to Australia).

On arrival in Trincomalee in February, Tjerk Hiddes rejoined the 7th Destroyer Flotilla for fleet screening and convoy protection duties in the Indian Ocean.

From 22 to 24 February, she joined an unsuccessful search for a German blockade runner en route from Japan to Germany[2][9] On 22 March, Tjerk Hiddes deployed with a large fleet[10] to practice at-sea refuelling and to rendezvous with the US aircraft carrier USS Saratoga.

[2] In October 1944, she returned to the United Kingdom, joining the 8th Destroyer Flotilla at Plymouth on convoy duties in the Southwest Approaches.

On 17 April 1958, Gadjah Mada took part in Operation 17 August (Indonesian: Operasi 17 Agustus), an amphibious landing to crush PRRI rebellion in West Sumatra.