The Netherlands could acquire Mackensen hulls as reparations

Would Dutch acquisition and British completion of three Mackensen-class hulls cost less than ordering three new ships?

Yes; the Netherlands might receive the hulls as German reparations, while completion in British yards would provide welcome postwar work.

Receiving incomplete German hulls at little or no purchase cost changes the economics compared with ordering new capital ships. British yards could then earn completion work during the postwar slowdown, although the ships would still require extensive fitting and adaptation for Dutch service.