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 code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Royal Netherlands Army |
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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 Code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Netherlands Army |
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| 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:
| Infantry | Cavalry | Artillery | |
| Soldaat | Huzaar | Kannonier | |
| Stoter | |||
| Grenadier | Rijder | ||
| 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 code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Royal Netherlands Air Force |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Other
The rank insignia worn by the king when in Air Force uniform.
Enlisted ranks
| NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Netherlands Air Force |
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| 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 code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Royal Netherlands Navy |
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Other
Admiraal, due to tradition; actual rank abandoned in 1956
(Admiral of the Fleet)
(Captain General RNMC)
Adelborst
| NATO OR-6 | Sergeant-Adelborst Form of address by Other ranks: Jonker Form of address by Officer ranks: Sergeant-Adelborst |
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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 |
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After 1 year of nominal study |
| NATO OR-2 | Adelborst Form of address by Other Ranks: Jonker Form of address by Officer ranks: Adelborst |
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On beginning studies |
Enlisted ranks
| NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Netherlands Navy |
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| 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 code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Royal Marechaussee |
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| Luitenant-Generaal | Generaal-Majoor | Brigade-Generaal | Kolonel | Luitenant-Kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | Eerste-Luitenant | Tweede-Luitenant | Kornet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enlisted ranks
| NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Marechaussee |
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| 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.
External links
- Royal Netherlands Army (Official website) (English)
- Royal Netherlands Air Force (Official website)
- Royal Netherlands Navy (Official website)
- Royal Netherlands Military Police (Official website)
- Netherlands Ministry of Defence (Official website) (English)
- Ranks of the Netherlands Armed Forces (Official website)
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