Military ranks of the Dutch armed forces

The Military ranks of the Dutch armed forces are the military insignia used by the Armed forces of the Netherlands.

Koninklijke Landmacht, KL (Royal Dutch Army, RNLA)

The Landmacht is the land based part of the Dutch military. Its tasks are the following:

  • To defend Dutch territory and that of NATO allies.
  • To contribute to peace, stability and safety worldwide.
  • To support civil authorities in maintaining order, fighting natural disasters, and providing humanitarian help, nationally as well as internationally.

Officers

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
 Royal Netherlands Army
No equivalent Enlisted or NCO rank plus Royal Military Academy
logo indicating cadet's career
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadegeneraal Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kapitein/Ritmeester 1e Luitenant 2e Luitenant Vaandrig/Kornet
English equivalent General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Officer Cadet

Enlisted ranks

NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Royal Netherlands Army

Adjudant-onderofficier Sergeant-majoor/
Opperwachtmeester
Sergeant der 1e klasse/
Wachtmeester der 1e klasse
Sergeant/Wachtmeester Korporaal der 1e klasse Korporaal Soldaat/Huzaar/
Kanonier der 1e klasse
Soldaat/Huzaar/
Kanonier der 2e klasse
Soldaat/Huzaar/
Kanonier der 3e klasse
English equivalent Warrant Officer Sergeant Major Staff sergeant Sergeant Master corporal Corporal Lance Corporal Private first class Private

The rank insignia of the cavalry and military administration for the ranks from 'Korporaal' to 'Sergeant-Majoor' /' Opperwachtmeester' are not in gold, but in silver. The Dutch titles for privates are:

InfantryCavalryArtillery
SoldaatHuzaarKannonier
Stoter
GrenadierRijder
Jager
Fusilier
Commando

Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu) (Royal Netherlands Air Force, RNLAF)

The Luchtmacht is the air based part of the Dutch military. Its tasks are the following:

  • Delivering military force wherever the Dutch people desire.
  • Dominating Dutch airspace.
  • Creating safety for military actions by land, sea or air.
  • To contribute to peace, stability and safety worldwide.
  • To support civil authorities in maintaining order, fighting natural disasters and providing humanitarian help, nationally as well as internationally.

Officers

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
 Royal Netherlands Air Force
No equivalent No equivalent
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Commodore Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kapitein Eerste-luitenant Tweede-luitenant Vaandrig
English equivalent Air Chief Marshal Air Marshal Air Vice-Marshal Air Commodore Group Captain Wing Commander Squadron Leader Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer Officer Cadet

Enlisted ranks

NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Royal Netherlands Air Force

Adjudant-Onderofficier Sergeant-majoor Sergeant der 1e klasse Sergeant Korporaal der 1e klasse Korporaal Soldaat der 1ste klasse Soldaat der 2de klasse Soldaat der 3de klasse
English equivalent Warrant Officer Sergeant Major Flight Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal Senior Aircraftman Leading Aircraftman Aircraftman

Koninklijke Marine, KM (Royal Netherlands Navy, RNLN)

The Marine is the sea-based part of the Dutch military. It includes both the navy and the marines. Its task are the following:

  • Defending Dutch interests, including the Dutch Caribbean, and those of allies worldwide.
  • To contribute to peace, stability and safety worldwide.
  • To support civil authorities in maintaining order, fighting natural disasters and providing humanitarian help, nationally as well as internationally.

Officers

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
 Royal Netherlands Navy
No equivalent No equivalent
Luitenant-Admiraal Vice-Admiraal Schout-bij-Nacht Commandeur Kapitein ter zee Kapitein-luitenant ter zee Luitenant ter zee der 1ste klasse Luitenant ter zee der 2de klasse oudste categorie Luitenant ter zee der 2de klasse Luitenant ter zee der 3de klasse Sergeant-Adelborst Korporaal-Adelborst Adelborst
Netherlands Marines Generaal Luitenant-Generaal Generaal-Majoor Brigade-Generaal Kolonel Luitenant-Kolonel Majoor Kapitein 1e Luitenant 2e Luitenant
English equivalent Admiral,
General
Vice Admiral,
Lieutenant General
Rear Admiral,
Major General
Commodore,
Brigadier
Captain,
Colonel
Commander,
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Commander,
Major
Lieutenant,
Captain
Lieutenant (junior grade) / Sub-Lieutenant,
Lieutenant
Ensign,
Second Lieutenant

Adelborst

NATO OR-6 Sergeant-Adelborst
Form of address by Other ranks: Jonker
Form of address by Officer ranks: Sergeant-Adelborst
After 2 years of nominal study
NATO OR-4 Korporaal-Adelborst
Form of address by Other Ranks: Jonker
Form of address by Officer ranks: Korporaal-Adelborst
After 1 year of nominal study
NATO OR-2 Adelborst
Form of address by Other Ranks: Jonker
Form of address by Officer ranks: Adelborst
On beginning studies

Enlisted ranks

NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Royal Netherlands Navy



Adjudant onderofficer/
Opperschipper (deckservice)
Sergeant-majoor/
Schipper (deckservice)
Sergeant/
Bootsman (deckservice)
Korporaal/
Kwartiermeester (deckservice)
Matroos/
Marinier der 1e klasse
Matroos/
Marinier der 2e klasse
Matroos/
Marinier der 3e klasse
English equivalent Warrant Officer Chief Petty Officer/
Sergeant Major
Petty Officer 1st Class/
Sergeant
Petty Officer 2nd Class/
Corporal
Leading Seaman/
Lance corporal
Seaman/
Marine 1st Class
Seaman recruit/
Marine

Koninklijke Marechaussee, KMar (Royal Gendarmerie)

The Royal Marechaussee, or Royal Netherlands Constabulary, is the gendarmerie and military police force of the Dutch Military. Its tasks are (among others):

  • Support the local police
  • Security of international airports and the Dutch borders
  • Police duties for the Dutch armed forces
  • Protection of Royal palaces and Government buildings.

Officers

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
Royal Marechaussee
No equivalent
Luitenant-Generaal Generaal-Majoor Brigade-Generaal Kolonel Luitenant-Kolonel Majoor Kapitein Eerste-Luitenant Tweede-Luitenant Kornet

Enlisted ranks

NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Royal Marechaussee

Adjudant Opperwachtmeester Wachtmeester der 1e klasse Wachtmeester Marechaussee der 1e klasse Marechaussee der 2e klasse Marechaussee der 3e klasse Marechaussee der 4e klasse

Former ranks

Epaulette of a Technisch Opzichter in the RNAF.
Rank insignia of an Opzichter in the RNAF.
  • (Veld)Maarschalk ((Field) Marshal), OF-10 of the Royal Netherlands Army, abolished in 1914.
  • Further in the past there were other ranks: Admiraal-generaal (General admiral), Luitenant-admiraal-generaal (Lieutenant General Admiral), and Kapitein-generaal (Captain General).
  • The Technisch Opzichter (Technical Supervisor) and Opzichter (Supervisor) ranks were discontinued in 1977.
  • The rank of Kapelmeester (Bandmaster) has been discontinued (the insignia was the same as that of Adjudant).
  • The rank of Onderluitenant (Under Lieutenant) existed in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. An Onderluitenant was the highest non-commissioned officer rank, between adjudant-onderofficier and tweede luitenant. After demobilizing the KNIL, professional soldiers were allowed to return or transfer to the Royal Netherlands Army or the Militaire Luchtvaart (the predecessor of the Royal Netherlands Air Force), while maintaining their rank. The rank insignia for Onderluitenant in the KNIL (and later the Royal Army) consisted of two dots. Onderluitenant Jacques Willem van Asdonck (Rangkasbitung, West Java, 1914) was the last Onderluitenant to leave active service in 1969.
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