Like many Dutch aircraft, the Fokker T.VIII floatplane had been designed for service in the Dutch East Indies but ended up being used by the Netherlands Naval Air Force (MLD) at home. Built as a torpedo bomber with construction made out of both wood and metal parts, all existing T.VIII units were used for coastal patrol after the German invasion. A number escaped to France and later Britain where they flew alongside Avro Ansons in RAF Coastal Command's No. 320 Squadron performing convoy patrols over the Western Approaches until replaced by Hudsons after exhausting their limited supply of available parts. Ironically, the Luftwaffe would end up becoming the major operator of this aircraft, completing all unfinished examples from the production line after the invasion and using them for anti-shipping, coastal patrol, and convoy escort duties in the North Sea and Mediterranean.

First flight of the prototype took place sometime in 1938 and the production run was composed of three variants. First was the T.VIII-W/G built partly of wood with fabric covering, next was the similar T.VIII-W/M with an all-metal rear fuselage, and finally the larger, faster, and heavier T.VIII-W/C with much more powerful Mercury engines.