The frigates were designed to operate smoothly in seaways with reduced length-to-beam ratio than usual for ships of their size.

The vessels had a range of 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 km; 5,400 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) while using a single Tyne turbine.

[6] The 76 mm guns could fire a 6 kg (13 lb) shell to a range of 8.6 nmi (15.9 km; 9.9 mi) at 85 degrees elevation.

[4] The aft guns were later replaced in all ships with a single-mounted, seven-barreled SGE-30 Goalkeeper 30 mm (1.2 in) close-in weapons system (CIWS) that had a range of 2 km (1.2 mi).

The Sea Sparrow had a range of 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) at a speed of Mach 2.5 with a 30 kg (66 lb) warhead.

[1] The remaining Kortenaer-class ships were initially used to patrol areas of the Atlantic Ocean until the 1990s, when their operations were shifted to the Mediterranean Sea and Strait of Hormuz.

In 1993, Bloys van Treslong was sent west to the Caribbean Sea to enforce a United Nations blockade of Haiti.

In 2001, the Kortenaers saw one last mission in Dutch service, with Philips van Almonde deploying to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

[9] The remaining two frigates were transferred to the United Arab Emirates in a contract signed on 2 April 1996 following a refit at Royal Schelde.

[11] The ships were named after Dutch captains and admirals: The first two frigates were acquired in 1980 and entered service with the Hellenic Navy in 1981 and 1982.

[12][14] From 1993 to 1997 four more Kortenaer-class frigates entered service with the Hellenic Navy and underwent the same modifications as Elli and Limnos with the exception of the lengthened hangars.

[10] Two ships were transferred to the United Arab Emirates military, entering service as Abu Dhabi and Al Emirat in December 1997 and May 1998 respectively.

Based at Jebel Ali, the two frigates had additional air conditioning fitted, a new surface search radar (Signaal Scout using the I band) and operated two Eurocopter AS565 Panther helicopters.