Netherlands Armed Forces

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Netherlands Armed Forces
Nederlandse krijgsmacht
Logos of the Netherlands Armed Forces
Founded1572; 452 years ago (1572)
Service branches
Headquarters
ranked 19th)
Percent of GDP1.95% (2024)[4]
Industry
Domestic suppliers
Foreign suppliers
Related articles
HistoryMilitary history of the Netherlands
RanksMilitary ranks of the Netherlands

The Netherlands Armed Forces (Dutch: Nederlandse krijgsmacht) are the military services of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The core of the armed forces consists of the four service branches: the Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine), the Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht), the Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht) and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee). The service branches are supplemented by various joint support organisations. In addition, local conscript forces exist on the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba (AruMil) and Curaçao (CurMil). These operate under the auspices of the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Netherlands Marine Corps. The armed forces are organisationally part of the Ministry of Defence.

The existence of, authority over, and tasks of the armed forces are determined in the constitution of the Netherlands. The Government, which consists of cabinet members led by the Prime Minister and the King, functions as the head of the armed forces. Although service members swear allegiance to the King of the Netherlands, the monarch does not hold the position of commander-in-chief, nor any other formal rank.

The military ranks of the Netherlands armed forces are similar to those of fellow NATO member states and were established by Royal Decree. The highest-ranking officer in the Dutch military is the Chief of Defence, who is a four-star officer (NATO OF-9).

After initial cooperation with the

Münster-located corps and increasing cross-linking during the following decades, all three Royal Netherlands Army combat brigades have fully integrated into German divisions as of March 2023.[5]

Foundation in law and purpose

The Netherlands armed forces exist by declaration in the constitution of the Netherlands.[6] Article 97 of this constitution determines that the armed forces exist

  • to defend the Kingdom of the Netherlands and its interests in the world; and
  • to protect and advance the international rule of law.

This means that the role and responsibility of the Dutch military in international stability and peacekeeping is constitutionally determined.

The same article of the constitution determines that supreme command of the Dutch military resides with the

Government of the Netherlands. This has been the case since the constitution was changed in 1983; before then, supreme command of the armed forces of the Netherlands was held by the King of the Netherlands
.

Overview

Organisation

general Onno Eichelsheim
during the acceptance ceremony of the command over the Netherlands Armed Forces, April 2021

The existence of, authority over, and tasks of the armed forces are determined in the

Minister of Defence
assumes political responsibility over the Ministry.

The

State Secretary, the Central Staff, the Netherlands Armed Forces and two independent support organisations. The Central Staff (Bestuursstaf) of the Ministry comprises several directorates responsible for executing policy, advising the Minister and State Secretary, and controlling the Defence organisation. The Central Staff is led by the highest civil servant of the defence organisation, the Secretary General. Moreover, the Central Staff incorporates the Defence Staff, which is the highest military organ under command of the Chief of Defence. The Chief of Defence is the military leader of the Netherlands Armed Forces and the most senior military adviser to the Minister of Defence. The Chief of Defence has command over the Armed Forces, the Netherlands Special Operations Command (NLD SOCOM) and the Defence Cyber Command. Several special executive organisations, including the Military Intelligence and Security Service
and the office of the Inspector General, are incorporated into the Central Staff as well.

Personnel

The Netherlands Armed Forces are a professional military, conscription in the Netherlands having been suspended in 1996 with the exception of Aruba and Curaçao.[7] All military branches and specialties are open to female recruits. In October 2018 the Ministry of Defence announced that the submarine service will also accept female recruits for positions as officer, NCO and sailor.[8]

The

Dutch Ministry of Defence employs over 66,000 personnel, including both civilian and military personnel.[9]
The distribution of personnel in the Defence organisation, including the Armed Forces, on 1 July 2020 was as follows:

Service Military Reserve Civilian Total
Navy 7,508 1,148 2,633 11,289
Army 16,055 4,054 3,261 23,370
Air Force 6,540 751 1,062 8,353
Marechaussee 6,606 306 746 7,658
Central Staff 1,079 18 1,803 2,900
Defence Support Command 2,724 144 6,546 9,414
Defence Materiel Organisation 738 6 4,279 5,023
Total 41,250 6,427 20,330 68,007

Ranks

Main article: Military ranks of the Netherlands armed forces

The Dutch military is part of the NATO militaries and therefore conforms to the structure of a NATO military. It also uses conforming rank structures.

Oath

All Dutch military personnel,

enlisted personnel, are required to take an oath of allegiance. This oath is recorded in the law on General Military Personnel Regulations (Algemeen Militair Ambtenarenregelement) in Article 126a and states the following:[10]

"Ik zweer (beloof) trouw aan de Koning, gehoorzaamheid aan de wetten en onderwerping aan de krijgstucht. Zo waarlijk helpe mij God Almachtig (Dat beloof ik)."

Translated in English:

"I swear (pledge) loyalty to the King, obedience to the law and submission to martial discipline. So help me God (That, I pledge)."

Unionised military

Unlike many military organisations, Dutch military members are allowed to form and join unions.[11]

There is a wide variety of unions, including unions exclusive to officers or particular service branches. Some of the larger unions include:

  • Algemene Federatie van Militair Personeel (AFMP, General Federation of Military Personnel), which was recognized by the Dutch government in 1966. The AFMP is a member of the Federation of Dutch Trade Unions (FNV).
  • Algemeen Christelijke Organisatie van Militairen (ACOM, General Christian Organisation for Military Personnel). The ACOM is a member of the Christian National Trade Union Federation (CNV).
  • Gezamenlijke Officieren Verenigingen en Middelbaar en Hoger Burgerpersoneel bij Defensie (GOV/MHB, United Officers Associations and Middle- and Seniorlevel Civilian Personnel)
  • Vakbond voor Defensiepersoneel VBM (VBM, Union for Defence Personnel).

Service branches

Royal Netherlands Navy

Main article: Royal Netherlands Navy
HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën during exercise At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield 2021 on the Atlantic Ocean

The Royal Netherlands Navy (

Belgian Naval Component
.

The surface fleet of the Navy consist of frigates, amphibious warfare ships, patrol vessels, mine-countermeasure vessels and multiple auxiliary ships. All major surface vessels of the Royal Netherlands Navy are constructed at the Dutch shipyard Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. This includes the technologically advanced air-defence frigates of the De Zeven Provinciën-class. Thales Nederland produces various types of high-end sensors and radars for the Dutch fleet.

The

HNLMS Mercuur. The Dutch submarines fulfill a considerable role within NATO
as their small size and expeditionary capacities allow them to operate in waters that are off-limits to larger submarines. The Ministry of Defence initiated a replacement program in November 2014, replacements are planned to enter service in the late 2020s.

Netherlands Marine Corps

Main article: Netherlands Marine Corps

The Netherlands Marine Corps is the Navy's

arctic and mountain warfare as well as special operations. The Corps operates a fleet of landing craft that can operate from one of the two Navy's amphibious transport docks
.

Troops of 11 Air Assault Brigade disembarking a CH-47 Chinook in Mali

Royal Netherlands Army

Main article: Royal Netherlands Army

The Royal Netherlands Army (

special operations forces are part of the Korps Commandotroepen. All Army units, and their personnel, are divided into tradtitional organisation of arms, services and regiments. The Army's infantry regiments fulfil several distinct roles, these include air assault, armoured infantry, light infantry and special operations. Furthermore, the Army fields cavalry, artillery, engineering and medical
regiments.

RNLAF F-35A Lightning II during cannon trials in October 2018

Royal Netherlands Air Force

Main article: Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (

airbases. Moreover, Air Force personnel contributes to the Joint Ground-based Air Defence Command by operating various air-defence systems while other units are dedicated to force protection. The Air Force operates modern fighter aircraft, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II
, tankers, transports, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and various types of training aircraft.

Marechaussee providing security at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with armoured Toyota Land Cruiser

Royal Netherlands Marechaussee

Main article: Royal Marechaussee

The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (

national borders and airports, fighting illegal immigration and transnational crime and guarding the royal palaces
.

The Marechaussee was established as one of the separate Armed Forces in 1998; before then the Marechaussee was organised as one of the arms within the Army. While the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence, the branch often performs duties delegated by the Ministry of Justice and Security and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Moreover, several brigades of the Marechaussee are permanently stationed in the Dutch Caribbean.

Contemporary campaigns

See also: Military history of the Netherlands

Since the 1990s, the Dutch military has been involved in several military campaigns and peace-keeping missions, these include:

Afghanistan

Contribution to ISAF

Main article: Task Force Uruzgan

As part of

Afghan National Army and local security forces. The troops were deployed under the command of NATO's International Security Assistance Force
mission.

A patrol of Task Force Uruzgan moving towards an over-watch position near Mirabad Valley, in 2008

The Netherlands deployed further troops and helicopters to Afghanistan in 2006 as part of a new security operation in the south of the country.

ISAF Task Force Uruzgan and were involved in some of the more intensive combat operations in southern Afghanistan, including Operation Medusa and the Battle of Chora.[18][17] On 18 April 2008, on the second day of his command, the son of the Chief of Defence (Netherlands) general Peter van Uhm, Lieutenant Dennis van Uhm, was one of two servicemen killed by a road-side explosion.[19] As of 1 September 2008, the Netherlands had a total of 1,770 troops in Afghanistan excluding special forces troops.[20]

Between 2002 and 2021, Dutch military personnel worked successively in the Afghan provinces of Kabul, Baghlan, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Kunduz and Balkh, with the aim, among other things, to bring stability and to build up the security apparatus, the army and the police.[21] In total, 25 Dutch servicemen were killed in action during the deployment.[22]

Resolute Support Mission

From 2015 until 2021, approximately 160 Dutch troops of the

Mazar-e-Sharif as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission.[23] Dutch troops co-operated with personnel of the German Kommando Spezialkräfte as part of the German-Dutch lead Special Operations Advisory Team (SOAT). The SOAT provided advice and assistance during operations of the Afghan police tactical unit, the Afghan Territorial Force-888 (ATF-888).[24] The SOAT was granted authority to deploy in the entirety of Afghanistan in 2019.[25]
The operations ended with the withdrawal of all United States and allied troops from Afghanistan in 2021.

Iraq

Multinational force in Iraq

A contingent of 1,345 Army and

Multinational force in Iraq.[26] On June 1, 2004, the Dutch government renewed their stay through 2005.[27] The Netherlands removed its troops from Iraq in March 2005, leaving half a dozen liaison officers until late 2005.[28] The Netherlands lost two soldiers in separate attacks.[27]

Intervention against ISIL

Main article:
Dutch military intervention against ISIL
The last Dutch F-16 detachment of Air Task Force Middle East returning home from Jordan

On 24 September 2014, the

ISIL, and sent six F-16 fighter jets to Iraq to bomb ISIL. Their motivations to join this war: ISIL's advance in Iraq and Syria, while displaying "unprecedented violence" and "perpetrating terrible crimes against population groups", formed "a direct threat for that region"; ISIL's advance in Iraq and Syria "causes instability at the borders of Europe" which threatens "our own [Dutch] safety". Figures requested by RTL Nieuws in August 2015 showed that the Netherlands was among the most active countries within the coalition, third behind only the United States and the United Kingdom.[29] In January 2016, the Netherlands extended their bombings of ISIL to Syrian territory. By the end of July 2016 the Dutch Air Task Force flew more than 2100 missions and carried out over 1800 air strikes.[30] At the end of the Dutch contribution to the Air Task Force, in December 2018, the Royal Netherlands Air Force had flown over 3000 missions and conducted approximately 2100 air strikes.[31]

From 2015 until the spring of 2018, KCT and NLMARSOF

battle against ISIL, as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.[33]

Lynx helicopter hovering over MV Taipan during the liberation operation, the boarding team rappelled onto one of the containers aboard the ship

Counterpiracy

As a

HNLMS Johan de Witt, and submarines of the Walrus-class. Additionally, surface combatants permanently carried boarding teams of the Netherlands Marine Corps. These boarding parties were often composed of operators of the Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces
(NLMARSOF). In addition, conventional marine units supply Vessel Protection Detachments (VPDs) which continue to guard Dutch merchant vessels during transits through piracy-prone waters as of 2021.

The Dutch naval forces were regularly engaged in combat. Firefights between the naval ships and Somali pirates have cost the lives of pirates on multiple occasions.

Action of 5 April 2010, a boarding team of the Unit Interventie Mariniers liberated container ship MV Taipan after rappelling down from HNLMS Tromp's helicopter onto containers on the ship's deck under the cover of machine gun fire.[35] The successful operation was filmed with a helmet camera, the video footage reached worldwide news media and gained millions of views on YouTube.[36] Moreover, NLMARSOF frogmen have successfully conducted sabotage operations of pirates' motherships by clandestinely attaching explosives to the ships' bilge.[37]

Mali

Dutch forces patrolling the plains north of Gao using Fennek reconnaissance vehicles

Special forces of the

CH-47 Chinook
detachment which provided the necessary air support and transport for the infantry units on the ground.

On 16 March 2015, a Dutch AH-64 Apache attack helicopter of the Dutch MINUSMA air detachment crashed during a firing exercise, killing the two pilots.[40] On 6 July 2016, two servicemen of 11 Air Assault Brigade were killed during a mortar-firing exercise, while a third serviceman was severely wounded.[41] The incident lead to the resignation of the minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Chief of Defence General Tom Middendorp after a critical report by the Dutch Safety Board found that the safety standards were subpar.[42][43] The Netherlands ended their sizable contribution to the peacekeeping mission in May 2019 to send additional troops to Afghanistan instead.[44]

Central staff

Chief of Defence Appointed Branch
Onno Eichelsheim
General
Onno Eichelsheim

(born 1966) 		15 April 2021
(3 years, 4 days)
Royal Netherlands Air Force
(Attack Helicopters)
Vice Chief of Defence Appointed Branch
Boudewijn Boots Vice admiral
Boudewijn Boots
(born 1964) 		8 March 2021
(3 years, 42 days)
Royal Netherlands Navy
(Naval Squadron)
Commander of the Army Appointed Branch
Martin Wijnen Lieutenant general
Martin Wijnen
(born 1966) 		28 August 2019
(4 years, 235 days)
Royal Netherlands Army
(Corps of Engineers)
Commander of the Navy Appointed Branch
René Tas Vice admiral
René Tas
(born 1964) 		9 September 2021
(2 years, 223 days)
Royal Netherlands Navy
(Naval Squadron)
Commander of the Air Force Appointed Branch
André Steur Lieutenant general
André Steur
(born 1970) 		14 April 2023
(1 year, 4 days)
Royal Netherlands Air Force
(Fighters)
Commander of the Royal Marechaussee Appointed Branch
Annelore Roelofs Lieutenant general
Annelore Roelofs [nl]
(born 1958) 		1 September 2023
(231 days)
Schiphol
)

References

  1. ^ Werken bij de landmacht – required age, Dutch army
  2. ^ a b "Aantallen personeel" [Numbers of personnel]. defensie.nl (in Dutch). 7 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Defensie uitgaven voor 2024". 21 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Plannen voor Defensie" [Plans for Defence] (in Dutch). 20 September 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  5. ISSN 1865-2263
    . Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Artikel 97: Krijgsmacht". denederlandsegrondwet.nl. De Nederlandse Grondwet. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Suspended" in this case means that no conscripts are called up in the Netherlands; the legal mechanism for the draft is still in place.
  8. ^ Gain, Nathan (22 January 2020). "Dutch female sailors now admitted for submarine service". Naval News. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Aantallen personeel". defensie.nl. Ministry of Defence. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Artikel 126a. - Algemeen militair ambtenarenreglement". wetten.nl. Overheid.nl. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  11. S2CID 144421886
    . Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  12. ^ "De opbouw van ISAF in Afghanistan sinds 2001". Het Parool. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  13. ^ "More Dutch troops for Afghanistan". BBC News. 3 February 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  14. ^ Dimitriu, G.R.; Tuinman, G.P.; van der Vorm, M. (2012). "Operationele ontwikkeling van de Nederlandse Special Operations Forces, 2005–2010" [Operational development of the Dutch Special Operations Forces, 2005–2010] (PDF) (in Dutch). 108 (3). Retrieved 5 May 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. ^ "Eindevaluatie Nederlandse bijdrage aan ISAF, 2006 – 2010" [Final evaluation of the Dutch contribution to ISAF, 2006 – 2010]. www.tweedekamer.nl (in Dutch). Cabinet of the Netherlands. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  16. Universiteit Leiden. Retrieved 5 May 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help
    )
  17. ^
    Elsevier
    . 1. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Nederlanders vochten mee in operatie Medusa". De Volkskrant. ANP. 15 September 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Son of Top Dutch General Is Killed in Afghanistan". The New York Times. Associated Press. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  20. ^ "ISAF Key Fact and Figures Placemat" (PDF). www.nato.int. NATO. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Afghanistan". www.defensie.nl. 19 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Afghanistan". www.veteraneninstituut.nl. Veteraneninstituut. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Nederlandse bijdrage Resolute Support". www.defensie.nl. Ministerie van Defensie. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  24. ^ Brasser, Bianca (7 May 2019). "KCT mee met Afghanen: Shana ba shana". Landmacht. 04. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Nederlandse commando's in heel Afghanistan". De Telegraaf. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Nederlands aandeel inzet Irak" [Dutch contribution to Iraq deployment]. www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Ministerie van Defensie. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  27. ^ a b "Inzet in Irak" [Deployment in Iraq] (PDF). www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Nederlandse missie in Irak officieel geëindigd" [Dutch mission in Iraq officially ended]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). ANP. 7 March 2005. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Bombardementen IS: Nederland in top-3 actiefste landen". RTL Nieuws. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  30. ^ "Dutch military contribution in Iraq". defensie.nl. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  31. ^ "F-16-missie Midden-Oosten beëindigd" [F-16 Middle East mission ended]. www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Ministry of Defence. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Nederland wil samen met België IS bekampen achter front in Irak" [The Netherlands wants to fight IS behind the front in Iraq together with Belgium]. Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 9 September 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  33. ^ van Langendonck, Gert (17 July 2017). "Instructeurs leren geharde peshmerga beter schieten". NRC Handelsblad. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  34. ^ Koelé, Theo (3 April 2011). "Twee piraten gedood bij bevrijdingsactie marine". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  35. ^ "Pirated German ship rescued – EU NAVFOR HNLMS Tromp retakes pirated MV Taipan". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 5 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  36. ^ "Spektakuläres Video: Wie die Holländer ein deutsches Containerschiff befreiten - SPIEGEL TV" [Spectacular video: How the Dutch liberated a German container ship - SPIEGEL TV]. YouTube (in German). Der Spiegel. 4 May 2010. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  37. ^ "Kikvorsmannen onderscheiden voor saboteren piratenschepen" [Frogmen awarded for sabotaging pirate ships]. NOS (in Dutch). 13 November 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  38. ^ de Ridder, Marlous (10 June 2014). "Commando's welkom in Gao: Special Forces nog nooit zo in de openbaarheid". Landmacht. 05. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  39. ^ Kuijl, Wouter (23 January 2019). "De All-Sources Information Fusion Unit in Mali en de Dutch Approach". Militaire Spectator. 188 (1). Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  40. ^ "2 Apache pilots killed in Mali". government.nl. Government of the Netherlands. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  41. RTV Drenthe
    (in Dutch). 28 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  42. ^ "Dutch minister resigns over deaths of Mali peacekeepers". BBC News. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  43. ^ "Mortierongeval Mali" [Mortar accident Mali] (in Dutch). Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid (Dutch Safety Board). 28 September 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  44. ^ van 't Einde, Tom (1 May 2019). "Missie in Mali voorbij, militairen terug naar Nederland" [Mission in Mali over, soldiers back to the Netherlands]. EenVandaag (in Dutch). AVROTROS. Retrieved 2 May 2020.

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