Bruinvis was laid down on 14 April 1988 at the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij ("Rotterdam Dry Dock Company") yard in Rotterdam. The christening and launching took place four years later on 25 April 1992 by the wife of the Secretary of State for Defense at the time, Mrs. J.M. baroness van Voorst tot Voorst - Bloys van Treslong. Bruinvis—like sister ship —was built in the Scheepsbouwloods, transported to the ship lift and launched via the boat lift. On 5 July 1994 the ship was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy and put into service.
