The ship was laid down on 28 May 1927, at the shipyard Fijenoord, in Rotterdam, and launched on 28 June 1928. The ship was commissioned on 22 October 1929.[1]
On 22 February 1932, Van Galen left Surabaya, for a trip to Shanghai, to look after Dutch interests in the region. She returned in April that year.[2]
On 16 November 1935, Van Galen, her sister, and the cruiser, made a visit to Saigon.[3]
On 23 August 1936, Sumatra, her sister, and the destroyers Van Galen, Witte de With and, were present at the fleet days held at Surabaya.[4]
On 16 August 1937, the ship was again sent to Shanghai, because of rising political tension in China. With the ship, 150 marines were sent to protect European citizens and interests.[5]
On 8 May 1940, she returned to the Netherlands, on 10 May, war with Germany broke out. The Germans had captured the airfield Waalhaven, in Rotterdam, and Van Galen was ordered to bombard the airfield. A German aircraft attacked her while underway and she sank near Merwehaven. The Germans decided to raise the ship on 23 October 1941. The wreck was scrapped in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht.[1]