The ship was 86.2m (282.8feet) long, had a beam of 14.33m (47.01feet), a draught of 5.23m (17.16feet), and had a displacement of 3,464 ton. The ship was equipped with 2 shaft reciprocating engines, which were rated at 4700ihp and produced a top speed of 16kn. The ship had a belt armour of 6inches and 9.5inches barbette armour. The main armament of the ship was three 8.2inches guns in a double and single turret. Secondary armament included two single 15cm (06inches) guns and six single 7.5cm (03inches) guns.[1]
The ship was laid down in 1893[2] at the Rijkswerf in Amsterdam and launched on 27 October 1894. The ship was commissioned on 17 December 1895.[3]
4 February 1896 she and her sister ship left for practice in the Mediterranean Sea.On 11 May 1896 during the harbor strikes in Rotterdam a ban on assembly was decreed. Two days later Kortenaer patrolled the Meuse. The ship was later relieved by her sister ships Evertsen, and the police schooner Argus. 300 grenadiers were deployed during the strikes. The strikes were ended on 21 may.[4]
On 30 May 1913 the ship relieved the in Constantinople which was sent to the city on 11 November 1912 because of risen political tension and a direct war treat.[5]
12 April 1914 the ship was sent from Curaçao to the Mexican coast to protect the complex of the Dutch petrol company La Corona in Tampico when political tension had risen between Mexico and the USA.[6]
The ships was finally decommissioned in 1920.[1]