 Ships of the size and role of the Vesuvius were never armored, not even in the early twentieth century.Therefore, the appearance of the French ironclad Gloire in August 1860 did not mean that the Vesuvius class became obsolete.Of the 6 ships one was built by the Rijkswerf Vlissingen, two were built at the Rijkswerf in Amsterdam, the Cornelis Dirks was built by K. Smit jr. in Krimpen a/d Lek, the Reinier Claeszen by K. Smit jr. in Kinderdijk, and one ship was built at the Rijkswerf Willemsoord.