Fleet size depended on industrial learning

Proposals ranged from four ships to a fleet of twelve. One plan put six of ten ships in the Far East, while a larger version sent eight of twelve there and retained four in the Netherlands. Dutch yards had experience and underlying infrastructure, but needed major investment for this new generation of large warships. Building the first ships abroad would let Dutch personnel learn from foreign construction while domestic facilities expanded. Foreign orders could supply immediate strength and prepare Dutch yards to build later units at home.