Military ranks of the Netherlands armed forces
Koninklijke Landmacht, KL (Royal Netherlands Army, RNLA)
The Landmacht is the land based part of the Dutch military. Its task 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-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | |
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| Dutch title | Generaal | Luitenant-Generaal | Generaal-Majoor | Brigade-Generaal | Kolonel | Luitenant-Kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | Eerste-Luitenant | Tweede-Luitenant | Vaandrig |
| (cavalry/artillery) | Ritmeester (Cavalry only) | 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-8/9 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | ||
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Army |
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| Dutch title | Adjudant | Sergeant-Majoor | Sergeant der 1e klasse | Sergeant | Korporaal der 1e klasse | Korporaal | Soldaat der 1ste klasse | Soldaat der 2de klasse | Soldaat der 3e klasse | |
| (cavalry/artillery) | Opperwachtmeester | Wachtmeester der 1e klasse | Wachtmeester | Kannonier/huzaar | Kannonier/huzaar | Kannonier/huzaar | ||||
| English equivalent | Warrant Officer | Sergeant Major | Sergeant First Class | Sergeant | Corporal First Class | 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-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | |
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 Air force |
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| Dutch title | Generaal | Luitenant-Generaal | Generaal-Majoor | Commodore | Kolonel | Luitenant-Kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | Eerste-Luitenant | Tweede-Luitenant | Vaandrig |
| English equivalent | General (or Air Chief Marshal) | Lieutenant General (or Air Marshal) | Major General (or Air Vice-Marshal) | Air Commodore | Colonel (or Group Captain) | Lieutenant Colonel (or Wing Commander | Major (or Squadron Leader) | Captain (or Flight Lieutenant) | Lieutenant (or Flying Officer) | Second Lieutenant (or Pilot Officer) | Officer Cadet |
Enlisted ranks
| NATO Code | OR-8/9 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |
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Air force |
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| Dutch title | 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 | |
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| Dutch title | Admiraal (due to tradition; actual rank abandoned in 1956) | Luitenant-Admiraal | Vice-Admiraal | Schout bij Nacht | Commandeur | Kapitein ter Zee | Kapitein-luitenant ter Zee | Luitenant ter Zee 1ste klasse | Luitenant ter Zee der 2e klasse oudste categorie | Luitenant ter Zee 2de klasse | Luitenant ter Zee 3de klasse |
| Netherlands Marines | not in use | Generaal | Luitenant-Generaal | Generaal-Majoor | Brigade-Generaal | Kolonel | Luitenant-Kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | 1e Luitenant | 2e Luitenant |
| English equivalent | Admiral of the Fleet, Captain General of the RNLMC |
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 |
Enlisted ranks
| NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7/6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2/1 | |||||
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| Dutch title | Adjudant Onderofficier | Sergeant-Majoor | Sergeant | Korporaal | Matroos der 1ste Klasse | Matroos der 2de Klasse | Matroos der 3de Klasse | |||||
| Netherlands Marines | Adjudant Onderofficier | Sergeant-Majoor | Sergeant | Korporaal | Marinier der 1ste Klasse | Marinier der 2de Klasse | Marinier der 3de 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 |
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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-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||
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Military Police |
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| Dutch title | Luitenant-Generaal | Generaal-Majoor | Brigade-Generaal | Kolonel | Luitenant-Kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | Eerste-Luitenant | Tweede-Luitenant | Kornet |
| English equivalent | Lieutenant General | Major General | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | Officer Cadet |
Enlisted ranks
| NATO Code | OR-8/9 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |
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Military Police |
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| Dutch title | Adjudant | Opperwachtmeester | Wachtmeester der 1e klasse |
Wachtmeester | Marechaussee der 1e klasse |
Marechaussee der 2e klasse |
Marechaussee der 3e klasse |
Marechaussee der 4e klasse |
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| English equivalent | Warrant Officer Class I | Warrant Officer Class II | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Marechaussee 1st Class, Corporal | Marechaussee 2nd Class, Lance Corporal | Marechaussee 3rd Class, Private 1st Class | Marechaussee 4th Class, Private |
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)
- http://mpbundels.mindef.nl/20_serie/dp_20_10/images/rangen.pdf Ranks of the Netherlands Armed Forces (Official website)]