In stead of defence vessels more interest for larger ships for Royal Netherlands Navy according to the Dutch newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 6 December 1859

An item dealing with the Royal Netherlands Navy reported that the decision not to built defence vessels by the navy shipyards permitted to supply more efforts to the building or completing of the larger ships including the conversion of the sailing frigate De Ruyter and three more ships into floating batteries. The block ships were to remain sailing vessels suitable to depart within a month to sea. The floating batteries were meant to defend the entrances to our trading places armed with 6 long 60 pdr guns fore and aft.