Royal Netherlands Army
Encyclopedia
The Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijk
e Landmacht) is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands
.
was one of the less organised, and not very-well trained armies of the 17th and early 18th century, and saw actions in the Eighty Year's War, the Dano-Swedish War (1658–1660)
, the Franco-Dutch War
, the Nine Years War, the War of Spanish Succession, the War of Austrian Succession and the French Revolutionary Wars
until the French conquered the Netherlands in early 1795.
The Staatse Leger was replaced by the army of the Batavian Republic
in 1795 which in its turn was replaced by the army of the Kingdom of Holland
in 1806. It fought alongside the French in the Anglo-Russian Invasion of Holland
in 1799 and several campaigns in Germany
, Austria
and Spain
between 1800 and 1810. Most notable were the engagements of the Horse Artillery Korps Rijdende Artillerie at the Battle of Friedland
in 1807, the capture of the city of Stralsund
in 1807 and 1809 and the participation of the Dutch Brigade in the Peninsular War
between 1808 and 1810. The independent army was disbanded in 1810 when Napoleon decided to 'reunite' Holland into France (La Hollande est reunie à l'Empire). The army units became part of the Grande Armée. The present day 126e Régiment d'infanterie has Dutch origins. Dutch army elements participated in the French invasion of Russia
in 1812. Most notable were the actions of the Pontonniers company under Captain Benthien at the Berezina River
(Battle of Berezina
).
An independent Dutch army was resurrected by the new Kingdom of the United Netherlands in 1814, following the Orangist uprising against Napoleonic rule in 1813. This new force, the Netherlands Mobile Army, formed an integral part of the allied army during the Hundred Days Campaign
that culminated in the Battle of Waterloo
. Units such as Baron Chassé's were key in securing victory for the allied army. Since 1814 (elements of) the army have been involved in several military conflicts (Waterloo campaign 1815, several colonial wars 1825-1925, the Belgian Revolution
1830-1832, the Second World War 1940-1945, the Indonesian War of Independence 1945-1949, and the New Guinea
insurgency 1960-1962).
Nowadays the army concentrates on peace-keeping and peace-enforcing operations and has been involved in several operations (in Lebanon
between 1979-1985, and the former Yougoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia
, Macedonia
and Kosovo
) 1991-present, but also in Cambodia
1992-1994, Haiti
1995-1996, Cyprus
1998-1999, Eritrea
and Ethiopia
2001, and most recent in Iraq
2003-2005, Afghanistan
2002-2010 and Chad
2008-2009).
of the Royal Netherlands Army is the Koninklijke Militaire Academie
in Breda
.
; Royal Netherlands Air Force
and the Royal Marechaussee) are fully volunteer forces as well.
A fourth regiment, the Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander
, was disbanded in November 2007 due to budget cuts. This regiment represents the former 3rd Hussars Regiment, formed in 1814 (origins date back to 1672). It was known as the Red (because of the red colour on their uniform) or Guards Hussars, but was never really a Guards regiment. In 2011, news reached that all cavalry, thus tanks, will be disbanded due the largest budget cuts ever (see http://www.nu.nl/politiek/2470185/nederland-krijgt-leger-zonder-tanks.html)
, the Garderegiment Fusiliers Prinses Irene and Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso
respectively.
The Regiment Limburgse Jagers and Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland guard the traditions of the former 6th and 8th Infantry Regiment respectively. In the near future, the traditions of the Regiment Infanterie Menno van Coehoorn (former 3rd Infantry regiment, disbanded 1995) will be guarded by the Regiment Infantry Johan Willem Friso. The 4th Infantry Regiment (disbanded 1950) and the Regiment Infanterie Chassé (former 7th Infantry Regiment, disbanded 1995) remain disbanded.
. This is a rapid deployable Army Corps headquarters which can be deployed in the frame of the NATO Response Force
. The permanent elements of this corps are a bi-national Staff Support Battalion and a bi-national Communications and Informations Battalion. The Staff Support Battalion consists of a bi-national staff support company and a logistics company. The battalion is based at Münster
(Germany) and Eibergen
(Netherlands). The 101 Communications and Informations Battalion is based in Eibergen and Garderen.
Previously, during the Cold War
, a full corps, I (NE) Corps, served as part of NATO's Northern Army Group
. The corps consisted of three divisions during the 1980s, the 1st, 4th, and 5th (reserve) divisions. During the 1990s and 2000s this force was reduced to the First Division 7 December
, which became part of I Ge/Nl Corps, and then later the division headquarters itself was disbanded.
Wheeled
as part of an international protection force since 1950. In total 3,972 Soldiers were sent to fight the war in Korea, 123 died in combat. Marines and Army were sent between 1950-1954
as part of an international protection force since 1979 War in Lebanon, 1979-1985 UNIFIL. Of the 9,084 soldiers who served in Lebanon 9 soldiers died. Dutchbat South Lebanon, to protect and serve 44 painfbat.(44 Armored Battalion) Johan Willem Friso. All 9,084 Soldiers received the medal for peace keeping under war circumstances.
as part of the NATO Kosovo Force since 1999.
, supported by Royal Netherlands Air Force
helicopters) was deployed to Iraq
in 2003, based at Camp Smitty near As Samawah
(Southern Iraq) with responsibility for the Muthanna Province, as part of the Multinational force in Iraq
. On June 1, 2004, the Dutch government renewed their stay through 2005. The Netherlands pulled its troops out of Iraq in March 2005, leaving half a dozen liaison officers until late 2005. The Dutch Government reportedly turned down an Iraqi Government request to extend the Dutch contingent for another year. The Netherlands lost 2 soldiers in separate attacks.
in Afghanistan
, to lay the ground for the increasing numbers of engineers who were building a vast base there. At the same time other special forces units from other nations deployed throughout the area, and worked closely together in this volatile area. By August 2006 the Netherlands deployed the majority of 1,400 troops to Uruzgan province at southern Afghanistan at Tarin Kowt (1,200), at Kamp Holland
, and Deh Rahwod (200). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4673026.stm The soldiers of Task Force Uruzgan
were mostly from the Regiment Van Heutsz, supplemented with soldiers from 44 Pantserinfanteriebataljon Regiment Johan Willem Friso and the 42 Tankbataljon Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje. PzH 2000 self propelled artillery pieces were deployed and used in combat for the first time. Since 2006, Dutch forces were involved in some of the more intensive combat operations
in southern Afghanistan, including Operation Medusa
and the Battle of Chora
. As of 10 August 2008, The Netherlands had a total of 1,770 troops in Afghanistan not including special forces troops.
Koninklijk
Koninklijk or Koninklijke is an honorary title given to certain companies and non-profit organizations in Belgium and the Netherlands, by the King or Queen in the respective country. It was first introduced by Louis Bonaparte in 1807, the King of the Netherlands at that time, who awarded the title...
e Landmacht) is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands
Military of the Netherlands
The Armed forces of the Netherlands consist of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.The service branches consist of:* Koninklijke Landmacht , Royal Netherlands Army....
.
Short history
The Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, but its origins date back to 1572, when the so-called Staatse Leger was raised. Therefore, the Netherlands is regarded to be one of the countries that have maintained the oldest standing army, dating back to the 16th century. This army of the Dutch RepublicDutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
was one of the less organised, and not very-well trained armies of the 17th and early 18th century, and saw actions in the Eighty Year's War, the Dano-Swedish War (1658–1660)
Dano-Swedish War (1658–1660)
The Dano-Swedish War of 1658–60 was a war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden. It was a continuation of an earlier conflict between the two belligerents which had ended just months earlier, after Sweden and Denmark brokered a peace agreement in Roskilde in 1658...
, the Franco-Dutch War
Franco-Dutch War
The Franco-Dutch War, often called simply the Dutch War was a war fought by France, Sweden, the Bishopric of Münster, the Archbishopric of Cologne and England against the United Netherlands, which were later joined by the Austrian Habsburg lands, Brandenburg and Spain to form a quadruple alliance...
, the Nine Years War, the War of Spanish Succession, the War of Austrian Succession and the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
until the French conquered the Netherlands in early 1795.
The Staatse Leger was replaced by the army of the Batavian Republic
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
in 1795 which in its turn was replaced by the army of the Kingdom of Holland
Kingdom of Holland
The Kingdom of Holland 1806–1810 was set up by Napoleon Bonaparte as a puppet kingdom for his third brother, Louis Bonaparte, in order to better control the Netherlands. The name of the leading province, Holland, was now taken for the whole country...
in 1806. It fought alongside the French in the Anglo-Russian Invasion of Holland
Anglo-Russian Invasion of Holland
The Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland refers to the campaign of 27 August to 19 November 1799 during the War of the Second Coalition, in which an expeditionary force of British and Russian troops invaded the North-Holland peninsula in the Batavian Republic...
in 1799 and several campaigns in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
between 1800 and 1810. Most notable were the engagements of the Horse Artillery Korps Rijdende Artillerie at the Battle of Friedland
Battle of Friedland
The Battle of Friedland saw Napoleon I's French army decisively defeat Count von Bennigsen's Russian army about twenty-seven miles southeast of Königsberg...
in 1807, the capture of the city of Stralsund
Stralsund
- Main sights :* The Brick Gothic historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.* The heart of the old town is the Old Market Square , with the Gothic Town Hall . Behind the town hall stands the imposing Nikolaikirche , built in 1270-1360...
in 1807 and 1809 and the participation of the Dutch Brigade in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
between 1808 and 1810. The independent army was disbanded in 1810 when Napoleon decided to 'reunite' Holland into France (La Hollande est reunie à l'Empire). The army units became part of the Grande Armée. The present day 126e Régiment d'infanterie has Dutch origins. Dutch army elements participated in the French invasion of Russia
French invasion of Russia
The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe...
in 1812. Most notable were the actions of the Pontonniers company under Captain Benthien at the Berezina River
Berezina River
The Berezina is a river in Belarus and a tributary of the Dnieper River.The Berezina Preserve by the river is in the UNESCO list of Biosphere Preserves.-Historical significance:...
(Battle of Berezina
Battle of Berezina
The Battle of Berezina took place November 26–29, 1812 between the French army of Napoleon, retreating after his invasion of Russia and crossing the Berezina , and the Russian armies under Mikhail Kutuzov, Peter Wittgenstein and Admiral Pavel Chichagov. The battle ended with a mixed outcome...
).
An independent Dutch army was resurrected by the new Kingdom of the United Netherlands in 1814, following the Orangist uprising against Napoleonic rule in 1813. This new force, the Netherlands Mobile Army, formed an integral part of the allied army during the Hundred Days Campaign
Hundred Days
The Hundred Days, sometimes known as the Hundred Days of Napoleon or Napoleon's Hundred Days for specificity, marked the period between Emperor Napoleon I of France's return from exile on Elba to Paris on 20 March 1815 and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII on 8 July 1815...
that culminated in the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. Units such as Baron Chassé's were key in securing victory for the allied army. Since 1814 (elements of) the army have been involved in several military conflicts (Waterloo campaign 1815, several colonial wars 1825-1925, the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
1830-1832, the Second World War 1940-1945, the Indonesian War of Independence 1945-1949, and the New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
insurgency 1960-1962).
Nowadays the army concentrates on peace-keeping and peace-enforcing operations and has been involved in several operations (in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
between 1979-1985, and the former Yougoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
and Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
) 1991-present, but also in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
1992-1994, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
1995-1996, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
1998-1999, Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
2001, and most recent in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
2003-2005, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
2002-2010 and Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
2008-2009).
Military academy
The military academyMilitary academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
of the Royal Netherlands Army is the Koninklijke Militaire Academie
Koninklijke Militaire Academie
The Royal Military Academy is the service academy for the Dutch Army and the Dutch Air Force. Located in Breda, the Netherlands, the KMA has trained future officers since 1828.-Description:...
in Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
.
Structure
The core fighting element of the army consists of a single division sized element divided into three separate brigades: two mechanised brigades and one airborne brigade. The number of full-time professional personnel is 27,000. The Royal Netherlands Army is a volunteer force; compulsory military service has not been abolished but has been suspended. The other three services (Royal Netherlands NavyRoyal Netherlands Navy
The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
; Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
The Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with four pilots...
and the Royal Marechaussee) are fully volunteer forces as well.
- 11th Airmobile Brigade11 Luchtmobiele BrigadeThe 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade '7 December is the elite rapid-reaction air assault unit of the Royal Netherlands Army. Its operators are trained to be deployed via helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft , and can be deployed anywhere in the world within 7 to maximally 20 days...
- 13th Mechanized Brigade13 Gemechaniseerde (Mechanized) BrigadeThe 13 Gemechaniseerde Brigade is one of the two mechanized brigades in the Royal Netherlands Army the other being the 43 Gemechaniseerde Brigade. The Brigade has armored and non-armored vehicles to its disposal...
- 43rd Mechanized Brigade
Union
Unlike many other military organizations, Dutch Army soldiers are represented by a union. This union is the General Federation Military Personnel (the acronym is AFMP), was recognized by the Dutch government in 1966 and represents both current and retired soldiers. The AFMP is a member of the Dutch Federation of Trade Unions, FNV.Cavalry
- Regiment Huzaren Van SytzamaRegiment Huzaren Van SytzamaThe Regiment Huzaren Van Sytzama is an armoured regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army, named for Willem Hendrik Baron van Sytzama. The regiment serves as part of 13 Gemechaniseerde Brigade operating the Leopard 2 main battle tank....
, former 1st Hussars Regiment (formed in 1814, origins date back to 1588) - Armoured (Will be disbanded) - Regiment Huzaren Prins van OranjeRegiment Huzaren Prins van OranjeThe Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje is an armoured regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army, named after Prince Willem, Prince of Orange, eldest son of King Willem II...
, former 2nd Hussars Regiment (formed in 1815, origins date back to 1688) - Armoured (Will be disbanded) - Regiment Huzaren Van BoreelRegiment Huzaren Van BoreelThe Regiment Huzaren van Boreel is an armoured regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army, named for Willem Francois Boreel. It currently serves in the armoured Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance role; the regiment provides two armoured reconnaissance squadrons assigned to...
, former 4th Hussars Regiment (formed in 1813, origins date back to 1585) - Reconnaissance/ISTAR
A fourth regiment, the Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander
Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander
The Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander is an armoured regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army, named after Prince Alexander, the second son of King Willem II. The regiment serves as part of 41 Gemechaniseerde Brigade operating the Leopard 2 main battle tank....
, was disbanded in November 2007 due to budget cuts. This regiment represents the former 3rd Hussars Regiment, formed in 1814 (origins date back to 1672). It was known as the Red (because of the red colour on their uniform) or Guards Hussars, but was never really a Guards regiment. In 2011, news reached that all cavalry, thus tanks, will be disbanded due the largest budget cuts ever (see http://www.nu.nl/politiek/2470185/nederland-krijgt-leger-zonder-tanks.html)
Infantry
Each infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army consists of a single battalion. The staff support compagnies of 11th Air Mobile Brigade, 13th Mechanized Brigade and 43rd Mechanized Brigade are part of the Garderegiment Grenadiers en JagersGarderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers
Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers is a regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army; it is one of two, along with the Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene that is classed as 'Guards'...
, the Garderegiment Fusiliers Prinses Irene and Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso
Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso
The Regiment Johan Willem Friso is a line infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army. Named after Johan Willem Friso of Orange-Nassau, it is the oldest and most senior regiment in the current order of battle...
respectively.
Guards
- Garderegiment Grenadiers en JagersGarderegiment Grenadiers en JagersGarderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers is a regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army; it is one of two, along with the Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene that is classed as 'Guards'...
, formed in 1995 through amalgamation of two regiments (formed 1829), origins date back to 1599 - Air Assault Infantry - Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses IreneGarderegiment Fuseliers Prinses IreneThe Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene is a regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army, named after Princess Irene, the sister of Queen Beatrix. It is one of two regiments, along with the Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers, to be classed as 'Guards'...
, formed in 1941 - Mechanised Infantry
Line infantry
- Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem FrisoRegiment Infanterie Johan Willem FrisoThe Regiment Johan Willem Friso is a line infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army. Named after Johan Willem Friso of Orange-Nassau, it is the oldest and most senior regiment in the current order of battle...
, former 1st Infantry Regiment (formed in 1813, origines date back to 1577)- Mechanised Infantry - Regiment Limburgse JagersRegiment Limburgse JagersRegiment Limburgse Jagers is a line infantry regiment in the Royal Netherlands Army. It is named for the Dutch province of Limburg, and currently serves in the mechanized infantry role as part of 13 Gemechaniseerde Brigade....
, former 2nd Infantry Regiment (formed in 1813, origines date back to 1602) - Mechanised Infantry - Regiment Infanterie Oranje GelderlandRegiment Infanterie Oranje GelderlandThe Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland is a line infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army. It is planned to reactivate the regiment from suspended animation in 2005 to form a mechanized infantry battalion as part of 43 Gemechaniseerde Brigade from 2007.-Battle honours:Quatre Bras...
, former 5th Infantry Regiment (formed in 1814, origines date back to 1585) - Mechanised Infantry - Regiment Van HeutszRegiment Van HeutszThe Regiment Van Heutsz is a line infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army. The regiment was named after J.B. van Heutsz a former Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, and was formed on July 1, 1950. It currently, in 2011, operates as 12 Air Assault Infantry Battalion as part of 11...
, former Netherlands East Indies Army, formed in 1832 (origines date back to 1808) - Air Assault Infantry - Regiment Stoottroepen Prins BernhardRegiment Stoottroepen Prins BernhardThe Regiment Stoottroepen Prins Bernhard is an infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army.The Regiment Stoottroepen was founded on 21 September 1944 in Eindhoven, and composed of members of the Dutch resistance from those parts of the Netherlands that had been recently liberated from German...
, formed in 1944 from several resistance formations - Air Assault Infantry
The Regiment Limburgse Jagers and Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland guard the traditions of the former 6th and 8th Infantry Regiment respectively. In the near future, the traditions of the Regiment Infanterie Menno van Coehoorn (former 3rd Infantry regiment, disbanded 1995) will be guarded by the Regiment Infantry Johan Willem Friso. The 4th Infantry Regiment (disbanded 1950) and the Regiment Infanterie Chassé (former 7th Infantry Regiment, disbanded 1995) remain disbanded.
Support arms
- Korps VeldartillerieRoyal Netherlands Army ArtilleryThe artillery of the Royal Netherlands Army is divided into three separate corps, undertaking two separate artillery functions:*Korps Veldartillerie - Field Artillery*Korps Rijdende Artillerie - Horse Artillery...
, formed in 1677 - Field Artillery - Korps Rijdende ArtillerieRoyal Netherlands Army ArtilleryThe artillery of the Royal Netherlands Army is divided into three separate corps, undertaking two separate artillery functions:*Korps Veldartillerie - Field Artillery*Korps Rijdende Artillerie - Horse Artillery...
, formed in 1793 - Horse Artillery - Korps LuchtdoelartillerieRoyal Netherlands Army ArtilleryThe artillery of the Royal Netherlands Army is divided into three separate corps, undertaking two separate artillery functions:*Korps Veldartillerie - Field Artillery*Korps Rijdende Artillerie - Horse Artillery...
, formed in 1917 - Air Defence Artillery - Regiment Genietroepen, formed in 1748 - Engineers
- Regiment Verbindingstroepen, formed in 1874 - Communications
Services
- Regiment Bevoorradings-en Transporttroepen - Transport and Logistics
- Regiment Geneeskundige Troepen - Medical
- Regiment Technische Troepen - Electrical/Mechanical Engineers
- Dienstvak Technische Staf - Technical engineers
- Dienstvak Militair Juridische Dienst - Legal service
- Dienstvak Militair Psychologische en Sociologische Dienst - Psychological and Sociological service
- Korps Militaire Administratie - Administration
- Koninklijke Militaire AcademieKoninklijke Militaire AcademieThe Royal Military Academy is the service academy for the Dutch Army and the Dutch Air Force. Located in Breda, the Netherlands, the KMA has trained future officers since 1828.-Description:...
- Royal Military Academy - Koninklijke Militaire School - Royal Military School
- LO/Sportorganisatie - Fisical training and Sports
Army reserve
Korps Nationale Reserve - five mixed regional oriented battalions (mainly infantry with a light role), similar to UK Territorial Army. The battalions are placed under command of three Regional Support Commands, that will be integrated with the 11th Air Mobile Brigade, 13th Mechanized Brigade and 43rd Mechanized Brigade by 2011.Bi-national army corps
The Netherlands and Germany work together in a Bi-national Army Corps structure, the I. German/Dutch CorpsI. German/Dutch Corps
1 German/Netherlands Corps is a multinational formation consisting of units from both the Royal Dutch Army and German Army. It is also part of NATO's Response Force, a military force consisting of approximately 25,000 troops. The Corps' headquarters are situated in Münster , formerly the...
. This is a rapid deployable Army Corps headquarters which can be deployed in the frame of the NATO Response Force
NATO Response Force
The NATO Response Force is a "coherent, high-readiness, joint, multinational force package" of up to 25,000 troops that is "technologically advanced, flexible, deployable, interoperable and sustainable"...
. The permanent elements of this corps are a bi-national Staff Support Battalion and a bi-national Communications and Informations Battalion. The Staff Support Battalion consists of a bi-national staff support company and a logistics company. The battalion is based at Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
(Germany) and Eibergen
Eibergen
Eibergen is a former municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands in an area called Achterhoek. The administrative cooperation of about 20 municipalities in this region, is called Regio Achterhoek....
(Netherlands). The 101 Communications and Informations Battalion is based in Eibergen and Garderen.
Previously, during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, a full corps, I (NE) Corps, served as part of NATO's Northern Army Group
Northern Army Group
The Northern Army Group was a NATO military formation comprising four Western European Army Corps, during the Cold War as part of NATO's forward defence in the Federal Republic of Germany.- History :...
. The corps consisted of three divisions during the 1980s, the 1st, 4th, and 5th (reserve) divisions. During the 1990s and 2000s this force was reduced to the First Division 7 December
First Division 7 December
The Eerste Divisie "7 December" or "First Division 7 December" was a division of the Royal Netherlands Army, active from at least 1946 to 2004. It was sent to the Dutch East Indies to restore "peace, order and security" in 1946...
, which became part of I Ge/Nl Corps, and then later the division headquarters itself was disbanded.
Armour
Tracked- 82 Leopard 2Leopard 2The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...
A6 main battle tanks with 62 tanks and 11 hulls in reserve (28 tanks of the reserve are to be sold). Originally the Netherlands purchased 465 tanks but 114 tanks and 1 turret were sold to Austria, 100 to Canada, 57 to Norway, 1 driver training tank and 10 turrets to Germany and 38 to Portugal (1 driver training tank). 10 hulls from the reserves will be used for the 10 AEV-3 KODIAK acquired in cooperation with Germany & Sweden. On April 8, 2011 the Dutch Ministry of Defense announced the tank division will be dissolved and the remaining Leopard tanks sold due to large budget cuts. On May 18, 2011 the last Leopard 2 fired the final shot at the Bergen-Hohne Training AreaBergen-Hohne Training AreaBergen-Hohne Training Area is a NATO military training area in the southern part of the Lüneburg Heath, in the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany. It covers an area of , which makes it the largest military training area in Germany.It was established by the German armed forces, the... - 193 CV9035NLCombat Vehicle 90The Combat Vehicle 90 or Stridsfordon 90 is a Swedish infantry fighting vehicle designed by Hägglunds where the first generation was fitted with a Bofors turret. It is currently produced by BAE Systems Hägglunds.-Background:...
infantry fighting vehicles (deliveries until end of 2011) - 568 AIFV (YPR-765)AIFVThe AIFV is a tracked light armored vehicle which serves as an infantry fighting vehicle in the armies of several countries. It is a development of the M113A1 armored personnel carrier.-History:...
infantry fighting vehicles. Several versions: Armoured personnel carrier (APC), Anti-Tank, Reconnaissance, Engineering, Battle Damage Repair, Recovery (YPR806), Cargo, and Battlefield Ambulance. The YPR-765 is internationally known under the name AIFVAIFVThe AIFV is a tracked light armored vehicle which serves as an infantry fighting vehicle in the armies of several countries. It is a development of the M113A1 armored personnel carrier.-History:...
, which was developed based on the M113M113 armored personnel carrierThe M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...
. Originally 2082, sales have included 25 to Bahrain, 1030 to Egypt, 441 to Jordan and 18 to Chile. 366 vehicles still remain in service. The YPR vehicles still in service will be, as the already sold ones, replaced by a combination of CV9035NL, Fennek and Boxer vehicles.
Wheeled
- 410 FennekFennekThe Fennek, named after the fennec , or LGS Fennek, with LGS being short for Leichter Gepanzerter Spähwagen in German , is a four wheeled armed reconnaissance vehicle produced by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Dutch Defence Vehicle Systems...
armoured vehicles. Several versions: Reconnaissance, General Purpose/Cargo, Medium Range Anti-Tank, Air Defence Vehicle (Stinger Weapons Platform), Forward Observer and Tactical Air Control (Target Designation) party. - 200 BoxerBoxer MRAVThe Boxer is a German-Dutch multirole armoured fighting vehicle designed to accomplish a number of operations through the use of installable mission modules. It is produced by the ARTEC GmbH industrial group, and the programme is being managed by OCCAR...
armoured fighting vehicles (deliveries between 2010-2015) 55 of the Command version, 19 of the Cargo version, 27 of the Cargo/C2 version, 41 of the Armoured Engineer Group version and 58 of the Ambulance version. - 86 BushmasterBushmaster IMVThe Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle or Infantry Mobility Vehicle is an Australian-built wheeled armoured vehicle. It was originally designed by Irish company Timoney Technology Ltd under a licence agreement with Perry Engineering in Adelaide; that licence was sold, with permission granted by...
infantry mobility vehicles (10 lost during the Dutch mission in Afghanistan). - 208 Airmobile Light Support Vehicles
Other armoured vehicles
- 25 Büffel (Leopard 2Leopard 2The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...
) recovery tanks - 14 Biber (Leopard 1) bridgelayers (will be replaced by 4 upgraded ex-Norwegian Army Leguan bridgelayers on a wheeled chassis and 10 PSB2 on a Leopard 2A4 chassis)
- 14 Leopard 1 armoured engineer vehicles (to be replaced by 10 AEV-3 KODIAK acquired in cooperation with Germany & Sweden).
- 22 Leopard 1 recovery tanks
- 18 Fuchs 1Fuchs (APC)TPz Fuchs is an armoured personnel carrier developed by Daimler-Benz and built by Thyssen-Henschel in 1979. It was the second wheeled armoured vehicle to be fielded in the Bundeswehr...
Electronic WarfareElectronic warfareElectronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
vehicles - 6 Fuchs 1Fuchs (APC)TPz Fuchs is an armoured personnel carrier developed by Daimler-Benz and built by Thyssen-Henschel in 1979. It was the second wheeled armoured vehicle to be fielded in the Bundeswehr...
NBC reconnaissance vehicles
Other vehicles
There are thousands of vehicles in several versions:- 8,400 DAF TrucksDAF TrucksDAF Trucks NV is a Dutch truck manufacturing company and a division of PACCAR. Its headquarters and main plant are in Eindhoven. Cabs and axle assemblies are produced at its Westerlo plant in Belgium...
, various versions with Broshuis trailers - 555 Scania PLS TrucksScania ABScania Aktiebolag , commonly referred to as Scania AB or just Scania, is a major Swedish automotive industry manufacturer of commercial vehicles - specifically heavy trucks and buses...
, various versions - 4,000 MB 290GD WolfMercedes-Benz G-ClassThe original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
, 4WD car, various versions - 128 Mercedes-Benz 280 CDIMercedes-Benz G-ClassThe original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
, various versions - 12 Suzuki King Quad 750 AXI 4x4 Quad for Korps CommandotroepenKorps CommandotroepenThe Korps Commandotroepen are the elite special forces of the Royal Netherlands Army. It is one of the two principal units tasked with special operations in the Netherlands , and it is deployable anywhere in the world under any circumstance, conducting all conceivable missions from...
- 6 BOZENA-4 Mini Mine Clearing System
- 2 Scanjack 3500
Artillery
- 57 PzH 2000PzH 2000The Panzerhaubitze 2000 , abbreviated PzH 2000, is a German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall for the German Army. The PzH 2000 is one of the most powerful conventional artillery systems currently deployed...
(18 active, rest in storage and to be sold)
Personal weapons
- Accuracy International Arctic WarfareAccuracy International Arctic WarfareThe Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifle is a family of bolt-action sniper rifles designed and manufactured by the British company Accuracy International...
sniper rifle in 7.62 - Accuracy International AWMAccuracy International AWMThe AWM is a sniper rifle manufactured by Accuracy International. It is also known as the AWSM , which typically denotes the .338 Lapua Magnum version.-The Arctic Warfare Magnum system:...
sniper rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum - Diemaco C7Diemaco C7The Colt Canada C7 rifle is a service rifle variation of the M16 rifle that is manufactured by Diemaco/Colt Canada, a subsidiary of Colt Firearms after 2005, and used by the Canadian Forces, Hærens Jegerkommando , Military of Denmark , Iceland Crisis Response Unit, the Military of the Netherlands ...
5.56 mm assault rifleAssault rifleAn assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
(mechanized infantry) - Diemaco C7A1Diemaco C7The Colt Canada C7 rifle is a service rifle variation of the M16 rifle that is manufactured by Diemaco/Colt Canada, a subsidiary of Colt Firearms after 2005, and used by the Canadian Forces, Hærens Jegerkommando , Military of Denmark , Iceland Crisis Response Unit, the Military of the Netherlands ...
5.56mm assault rifleAssault rifleAn assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
(airmobile infantry) - Diemaco C8A1Diemaco C7The Colt Canada C7 rifle is a service rifle variation of the M16 rifle that is manufactured by Diemaco/Colt Canada, a subsidiary of Colt Firearms after 2005, and used by the Canadian Forces, Hærens Jegerkommando , Military of Denmark , Iceland Crisis Response Unit, the Military of the Netherlands ...
5.56 mm carbineCarbineA carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length....
(special forces & marines) - FIM-92C StingerFIM-92 StingerThe FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile , which can be adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters , developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S...
man-portable surface to air missile - FN MAGFN MAGThe FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...
7.62 mm machine gun - FN MINIMIFN MinimiThe Minimi is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal by Ernest Vervier. First introduced in 1974, it has entered service with the armed forces of over thirty countries...
5.56 mm light machine gunLight machine gunA light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:... - FN P90FN P90The FN P90 is a selective fire personal defense weapon designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium. The P90's name is taken from 1990, the year it was introduced...
5.7mm submachine gun - Glock 17 9 mm pistolPistolWhen distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
- Heckler & Koch AG-NL 40mm grenade launcher
- Heckler & Koch GMGHeckler & Koch GMGThe GMG is an automatic grenade launcher developed by Heckler & Koch for the German Army. It is also often referred to as GMW .-Design details:...
40 mm automatic grenade launcher - Heckler & Koch HK416 5.56 mm carbine
- Heckler & Koch HK417 7.62 mm battle rifle/designated marksman rifle
- Heckler & Koch MP5Heckler & Koch MP5The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
9mm submachine gun - L16A2L16 81mm MortarThe United Kingdom's L16 81 mm mortar is the standard mortar used by the British armed forces. It originated as a joint design by UK and Canada. The version produced and used by Australia is named the F2 81mm Mortar, whilst the version used by the U.S...
81 mm mortarMortar (weapon)A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber.... - M2HB 12.7mm (.50cal) heavy machine gun
- M82A1 12.7mm sniper rifle
- Mauser SR93 sniper rifle in .300 Winchester Magnum.300 Winchester MagnumThe .300 Winchester Magnum is a popular, belted, bottlenecked magnum rifle cartridge that was introduced by Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1963 as a member of the family of Winchester Magnum cartridges. The .300 Winchester Magnum is a magnum cartridge designed to fit in a standard length...
(7.62 mm) or .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6 mm) used solely by the BBE - Mossberg M590A1Mossberg 500Mossberg 500 is a series of shotguns manufactured by O.F. Mossberg & Sons. The 500 series comprises widely varying models of hammerless, pump action repeaters, all of which share the same basic receiver and action, but differ in bore size, barrel length, choke options, magazine capacity, and...
12 gauge special purpose shotgun - Panzerfaust 3Panzerfaust 3The Panzerfaust 3 is a modern and disposable recoilless RPG anti-tank weapon developed between 1978 and 1985 and put into service by the Bundeswehr in 1992...
anti-tank weapon (short range) - RT-120 (Habé Rayé) 120 mm mortar
- Sako TRG-41Sako TRGSako TRG-22/42 sniper rifles were developed by the Finnish firearm manufacturer SAKO of Riihimäki. The TRG-22 is designed to fire standard .308 Winchester ammunition, while the TRG-42 is designed to fire more powerful .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition and therefore has a...
sniper rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum - SIG Sauer P226SIG P226The SIG P226 is a full-sized, service-type pistol made by SIG Sauer. It is chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .22 Long Rifle. It is essentially the same basic design of the SIG P220, but developed to use higher capacity, staggered-column magazines in place of the...
9 mm pistolPistolWhen distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol... - GillSpike (missile)Spike is a fourth generation man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile with tandem-charged HEAT warhead, developed and designed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and in service with a number of nations....
anti-tank missile (medium range) - Steyr SSG 69Steyr SSG 69The SSG 69 is a bolt-action sniper rifle produced by Steyr Mannlicher and serves as the standard sniper rifle for the Austrian Army....
7.62mm sniper rifle
Korea
Dutch army troops have deployed to KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
as part of an international protection force since 1950. In total 3,972 Soldiers were sent to fight the war in Korea, 123 died in combat. Marines and Army were sent between 1950-1954
Lebanon
Dutch army troops have deployed to LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
as part of an international protection force since 1979 War in Lebanon, 1979-1985 UNIFIL. Of the 9,084 soldiers who served in Lebanon 9 soldiers died. Dutchbat South Lebanon, to protect and serve 44 painfbat.(44 Armored Battalion) Johan Willem Friso. All 9,084 Soldiers received the medal for peace keeping under war circumstances.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Dutch army troops have deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of an international protection force since 1992.Kosovo
Dutch army troops have deployed to KosovoKosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
as part of the NATO Kosovo Force since 1999.
Iraq
A contingent of 1,345 troops (comprising Landmacht and Dutch MarinesNetherlands Marine Corps
The Korps Mariniers is the marine corps and amphibious infantry component of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines are trained to operate anywhere in the world in all environments, under any condition and circumstance, as a rapid reaction force. The Korps Mariniers can be deployed to a given...
, supported by Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
The Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with four pilots...
helicopters) was deployed to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in 2003, based at Camp Smitty near As Samawah
Samawah
Samawah or As Samawah is a city in Iraq, 280 kilometres southeast of Baghdad. .The city of Samawah is the modern capital of the Al Muthanna Governorate. The city is located midway between Baghdad and Basra, at the northern edge of the governorate...
(Southern Iraq) with responsibility for the Muthanna Province, as part of the Multinational force in Iraq
Multinational force in Iraq
The Multi-National Force – Iraq was a military command, led by the United States, which was responsible for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Multi-National Force – Iraq replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on 15 May 2004, and was later itself reorganized into its successor, United...
. On June 1, 2004, the Dutch government renewed their stay through 2005. The Netherlands pulled its troops out of Iraq in March 2005, leaving half a dozen liaison officers until late 2005. The Dutch Government reportedly turned down an Iraqi Government request to extend the Dutch contingent for another year. The Netherlands lost 2 soldiers in separate attacks.
Afghanistan
In mid 2006, Dutch Special Forces Korps Commandotroepen teams deployed successfully to Tarin KowtTarin Kowt
Tarinkot or Tarin Kowt is the capital of Orūzgān province in southern Afghanistan in Tarin Kowt District. It is a town of about 10,000 people, with some 200 small shops in the city's bazaar...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, to lay the ground for the increasing numbers of engineers who were building a vast base there. At the same time other special forces units from other nations deployed throughout the area, and worked closely together in this volatile area. By August 2006 the Netherlands deployed the majority of 1,400 troops to Uruzgan province at southern Afghanistan at Tarin Kowt (1,200), at Kamp Holland
Kamp Holland
Kamp Holland is the main Dutch military base on the outskirts of Tarin Kowt, the provincial capital of Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan....
, and Deh Rahwod (200). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4673026.stm The soldiers of Task Force Uruzgan
Task Force Uruzgan
The Netherlands Army Task Force Uruzgan was part of NATO's Regional Command South, International Security Assistance Force, in Afghanistan. The Dutch lead one of the four Provincial Reconstruction Teams in the southern region of the country...
were mostly from the Regiment Van Heutsz, supplemented with soldiers from 44 Pantserinfanteriebataljon Regiment Johan Willem Friso and the 42 Tankbataljon Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje. PzH 2000 self propelled artillery pieces were deployed and used in combat for the first time. Since 2006, Dutch forces were involved in some of the more intensive combat operations
Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006
In January 2006, NATO's focus in southern Afghanistan was to form Provincial Reconstruction Teams with the British leading in Helmand Province and the Netherlands and Canada would lead similar deployments in Orūzgān Province and Kandahar Province respectively. The Americans with 2,200 troops stayed...
in southern Afghanistan, including Operation Medusa
Operation Medusa
Operation Medusa was a Canadian-led offensive by major elements of the International Security Assistance Force, Afghan National Army and an A-Team from the 3rd Special Forces Group, as part of the ongoing war in Afghanistan. It aimed to establish government control over an area of Kandahar...
and the Battle of Chora
Battle of Chora
The Battle of Chora took place in and around the town of Chora , in Afghanistan's Orūzgān Province, during June 15–19, 2007. The fighting was between ISAF and Afghan forces on one side and Taliban forces on the other for the control of the Chora District center, regarded by the Taliban as a...
. As of 10 August 2008, The Netherlands had a total of 1,770 troops in Afghanistan not including special forces troops.