Geinwens was built in the Netherlands by the Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC), the Dutch East India Company, in 1765, and made two successful voyages to the Dutch East Indies and back to the Netherlands. She also sailed for the Chamber of Sealand.

On 23 October 1775, Geinwens was ready to leave Galle and set sail for Cochin (Kochi) to get a load of pepper. In the bay of Galle she ran on a bank. She managed to get off the bank again with help from the anchors, but the keel was badly damaged, so it was decided to break her up.