At the turn of the 20th century, Holland America Line's flagship was Potsdam, launched by Blohm+Voss in Hamburg in May 1899 and completed in May 1900.

Rijndam was laid down on 23 November 1899 as yard number 336, launched on 18 May 1901 and completed on 3 October that year.

Harland & Wolff also built a third sister ship, Noordam, which was launched in September 1901 and completed in March 1902.

[4] When the Marconi Company equipped her for wireless telegraphy, it also listed her in its English-language publications as Ryndam.

[6] On 25 May 1915 the Norwegian fruit ship Joseph J. Cuneo collided with Rijndam in fog about 10 nautical miles (19 km) south of Nantucket Shoals.

The battleships USS Louisiana, Michigan, South Carolina and Texas answered her distress signal and rescued 78 passengers and 152 crew from Rijndam.

[12] As a troopship, Rijndam made 13 transatlantic round trips between the US and France: six before the Armistice of 11 November 1918 and seven afterward.

[15] On 29 May Rijndam left Brest on her return voyage, in convoy with Antigone, President Lincoln, Susquehanna, and an escort of destroyers.

[16] U-90 fired torpedoes at Rijndam, but the troopship took successful evasive action, and shortly afterward, nearly rammed a submarine cruising at periscope depth.

[17][19] Rijndam landed troops and supplies at Brest on three more occasions until November 1918, and once at Quiberon in July.

After the Armistice she repatriated US troops from Quiberon, Brest and Saint-Nazaire to Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia, Hoboken and New York.

[20][21] Princess Matoika was the swifter ship, but Rijndam recruited volunteers from the 133rd Field Artillery Regiment aboard as extra stokers for her furnaces, and with their help she narrowly won the race.

[22] Rijndam's final troop repatriation voyage was from Brest, and reached New York on 4 August 1919.

On 11 August 1919 Rijndam was transferred from the Cruiser and Transport Force to the 3rd Naval District in New York.