Military ranks of the Netherlands armed forces
The Military ranks of the Netherlands Armed Forces are the military insignia used by the Netherlands Armed Forces.[1]
Current ranks
[edit]- Officer ranks
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- 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 [2]
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| Infantry ranks | Adjudant-onderofficier | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant der 1e klasse | Sergeant | Korporaal der 1e klasse | Korporaal | Soldaat der 1e klasse | Soldaat der 2e klasse | Soldaat der 3e klasse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Artillery ranks | Opperwachtmeester | Wachtmeester der 1e klasse | Wachtmeester | Kanonier der 1e klasse | Kanonier der 2e klasse | Kanonier der 3e klasse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Netherlands Army [2]
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| Cavalry ranks | Adjudant-onderofficier | Opperwachtmeester | Wachtmeester der 1e klasse | Wachtmeester | Korporaal der 1e klasse | Korporaal | Huzaar der 1e klasse | Huzaar der 2e klasse | Huzaar der 3e klasse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Administration ranks | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant der 1e klasse | Sergeant | Soldaat der 1e klasse | Soldaat der 2e klasse | Soldaat der 3e klasse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Royal Netherlands Navy[2] |
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| Adjudant-onderofficier/ Opperschipper |
Sergeant-majoor/ Schipper |
Sergeant/ Bootsman |
Korporaal/ Kwartiermeester |
Matroos der 1e klasse | Matroos der 2e klasse | Matroos der 3e klasse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Netherlands Marine Corps[2] |
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjudant-onderofficier | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant | Korporaal | Marinier der 1e klasse | Marinier der 2e klasse | Marinier der 3e klasse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Royal Netherlands Air Force[2] |
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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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Royal Marechaussee[2] |
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| Adjudant-onderofficier | Opperwachtmeester | Wachtmeester der 1e klasse | Wachtmeester | Marechaussee der 1e klasse | Marechaussee der 2e klasse | Marechaussee der 3e klasse | Marechaussee der 4e klasse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Dutch titles for privates are:[2]
| Name | |
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| Infantry | Soldaat, Stoter, Grenadier, Jager, Fusilier, Commando, Pontonnier |
| Cavalry | Huzaar, Rijder |
| Artillery | Kannonier |
Cadet ranks at the Royal Military Academy and Royal Naval College
[edit]| NATO code | OF(D) | Student officer | |||||
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| OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-1 | ||||
| 5th year | 4th year | 3rd year | 2nd year | 1st year | |||
| Royal Netherlands Army
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| Vaandrig/Kornet | Sergeant/ Wachtmeester |
Korporaal der 1e klasse | Korporaal | Soldaat/ Huzaar/ Kanonier der 3e klasse | |||
| Royal Netherlands Air Force
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| Vaandrig | Sergeant | Korporaal der 1e klasse | Korporaal | Soldaat der 3de klasse | |||
| Royal Netherlands Navy & Netherlands Marine Corps |
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| Sergeant-Adelborst | Korporaal-Adelborst | Adelborst der 1e klasse | Adelborst | ||||
| Royal Marechaussee
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| Kornet | Cadet Wachtmeester | Cadet Marechaussee der 1e klasse | Cadet Marechaussee der 2e klasse | Cadet Marechaussee der 4e klasse | |||
Overseas forces
[edit]- Officer ranks
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | 1e Luitenant | 2e Luitenant | Vaandrig
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 Vrijwilligers KorpsSint Maarten |
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| Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | 1e Luitenant | 2e Luitenant | Vaandrig | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- 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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| Vrijwilligers Korps Curaçao |
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| Staf adjudant onderofficier | Adjudant onderofficer | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant | Korporaal | Soldaat 1ste klas | Soldaat 2de klas | Soldaat
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| Vrijwilligers Korps Sint Maarten |
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| Staf adjudant onderofficier | Adjudant onderofficer | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant | Korporaal | Soldaat 1ste klas | Soldaat 2de klas | Soldaat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal insignia
[edit]In 2013, the King of the Netherlands was given special insignia, showing the regalia orb, scepter and sword for army and navy. Although it indicates no rank, it shows his lasting connection to the armed forces.[3]
| Rank group | the Monarch |
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| Royal Netherlands Army[3]
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| Royal Netherlands Navy[3]
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| Royal Netherlands Air Force[3]
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Historic ranks
[edit]Army
[edit]- Officer ranks
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Netherlands Army 1856–1914 |
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| (Veld)Maarschalk | Generaal | Luitenant-generaal | Generaal-majoor | Kolonel | Overste/Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein/Ritmeester | 1e Luitenant | 2e Luitenant | Vaandrig/Kornet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Netherlands Army 1914–1940[4][5] |
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| Generaal | Luitenant-generaal | Generaal-majoor | Kolonel | Overste/Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein/Ritmeester | 1e Luitenant | 2e Luitenant | Kapelmeester[6] | Vaandrig/Kornet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Netherlands Army 1941–1955[7][8][9] |
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| Generaal | Luitenant-generaal | Generaal-majoor | Kolonel | Overste/Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein/Ritmeester | 1e Luitenant | 2e Luitenant | Kapelmeester | Vaandrig/Kornet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Enlisted ranks
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Netherlands Army 1856–1922[5] |
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| Vaandeldrager[10] | Adjudant | Opzichter[11] | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant der 1e klasse | Sergeant | Korporaal | Soldaat/ Kanonier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Vaandeldrager | Adjudant | Opperwachtmeester | Wachtmeester der 1e klasse | Wachtmeester | Brigadier[12] | Huzaar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Netherlands Army 1923–1940[5] |
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| Adjudant | Opzichter[11] | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant der 1e klasse | Sergeant | Korporaal | Soldaat/ Kanonier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Adjudant | Opperwachtmeester | Wachtmeester der 1e klasse | Wachtmeester | Brigadier | Huzaar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Netherlands Army 1941–1955[4] |
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| Adjudant | Sergeant-majoor/ Opperwachtmeester |
Sergeant/Wachtmeester | Korporaal | Soldaat/Huzaar/ Kanonier der 1e klasse |
Soldaat/Huzaar/ Kanonier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Netherlands Army 1961–1990 |
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| Adjudant | Opzichter | 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Netherlands Air Force
[edit]- Officer ranks
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Netherlands Air Force circa 1961/1963[13] |
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| Generaal | Luitenant-generaal | Generaal-majoor | Commodore | Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | Eerste-luitenant | Tweede-luitenant | Vaandrig | Kader[14] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
- 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 circa 1963–1977[13] |
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| Technisch Opzichter | Adjudant-Onderofficier/Opzichter | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant der 1e klasse | Sergeant | Korporaal der 1e klasse | Korporaal | Soldaat der 1ste klasse | Soldaat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Netherlands Air Force 1977–unknown |
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| Adjudant-Onderofficier | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant der 1e klasse | Sergeant | Korporaal der 1e klasse | Korporaal | Soldaat der 1ste klasse | Soldaat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Netherlands Air Force unknown–2002 |
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| Adjudant-Onderofficier | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant der 1e klasse | Sergeant | Korporaal der 1e klasse | Korporaal | Soldaat der 1ste klasse | Soldaat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Netherlands Navy
[edit]- Officer ranks
Royal Marechaussee
[edit]- Officer ranks
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Marechaussee 1945–1961 |
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| Generaal-Majoor | Brigade-Generaal | Kolonel | Luitenant-Kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | Eerste-Lieutenant | Tweede-Lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||
| Royal Marechaussee 1962–1995 |
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| Generaal-Majoor | Brigade-Generaal | Kolonel | Luitenant-Kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | Eerste-Lieutenant | Tweede-Lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
- Enlisted ranks
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Marechaussee 1945–1961 |
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| Adjudant | Opperwachtmeester | Wachtmeester der 1e klasse | Wachtmeester | Marechaussee der 1e klasse | Marechaussee der 2e klasse | Marechaussee der 3e klasse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Marechaussee 1962–1995 |
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| Adjudant | Opperwachtmeester Adm. | Opperwachtmeester | Wachtmeester der 1e klasse | Wachtmeester | Marechaussee der 1e klasse | Marechaussee der 2e klasse | Marechaussee der 3e klasse | Marechaussee der 4e klasse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former ranks
[edit]
- (Veld)Maarschalk (Field) Marshal), OF-10 of the Royal Netherlands Army, abolished in 1914.[citation needed]
- Further in the past there were other ranks: Admiraal-generaal (General admiral), Luitenant-admiraal-generaal (Lieutenant General Admiral), and Kapitein-generaal (Captain General).[citation needed]
- The Technisch Opzichter (Technical Supervisor) and Opzichter (Supervisor) ranks were discontinued in 1977.[citation needed]
- The rank of Kapelmeester (Bandmaster) has been discontinued (the insignia was the same as that of Adjudant).[citation needed]
- 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.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ "The rank insignias of the Netherlands armed forces". 19 December 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "De rangonderscheidingstekens van de krijgsmacht" (PDF) (in Dutch). Ministry of Defence (Netherlands). 19 December 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Ministry of Defense (24 April 2013). "Besluit van 24 april 2013, houdende vaststelling van het Koninklijk Distinctief" [Decree of April 24, 2013, establishing the Royal Distinctive]. zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Dutch army strategy and armament in WWII". War over Holland. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "Rangen en standen" [Ranks and Standings]. De Slaag om de Grebberberg (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ "Bij alle wapens" [With all weapons]. NIMH Beeldbank (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "General Tans at lunch". NIMH Beeldbank (in Dutch). 1955. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Portret van gen H.G. Winkelman". NIMH Beeldbank (in Dutch). 1945. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Mollo 2001, p. 47.
- ^ "De vaandeldragers van nederland 1910" [The standard bearers of the Netherlands 1910]. NMM (in Dutch).[dead link]
- ^ a b "Kraagspiegels 1940" [Collar mirrors 1940]. NIMH Beeldbank (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Bij de Cavalerie" [At the Cavalry]. NIMH Beeldbank (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ a b "De Koninklijke Luchtmacht; rangen en standen alsmede de squadronemblemen" [The Royal Air Force; ranks and positions as well as the squadrons emblems.]. NIMH Beeldbank (in Dutch). 10 April 1963. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "De eerste officiële vlaggenparade bij de Luchtmacht Kaderschool (LKS), waarbij het leerlingenembleem wordt toegekend. Hier de afbeelding van het leerlingenembleem" [The first official flag parade at the Air Force Framework School (LKS), where the student emblem is awarded. Here is the image of the student logo.]. NIMH Beeldbank (in Dutch). 3 February 1961. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Rangen en standen van de Koninklijke Marine" [Ranks and positions of the Royal Navy] (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- Mollo, Andrew (2001). The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, Insignia & Organisation. Leicester: Silverdale books. ISBN 1-85605-603-1.
External links
[edit]- Aanbieding van het gedenkboek van de T-Brigade "Tussen sawahs en bergen" door de commandant van de Brigade, kolonel D.R.A. van Langen, aan de commandant B-Divisie, generaal-majoor J.K. Meyer.
- Onderofficieren van de Kader School Infanterie, gevestigd op de Isabella kazerne in Den Bosch (Vught), kijken naar een sportwedstrijd.
- Sergeant der Luchtvaartafdeeling (LVA) Hansen.
- Genisten (officieren, onderofficieren en minderen) in de houding op een voltooide schipbrug.