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TheRoyal Netherlands Marine Corps (Dutch:Korps Mariniers) is the elitenaval infantry corps of theRoyal Netherlands Navy,[1] one of the four Armed Forces of theKingdom of the Netherlands.[2] The marines trace their origins to the establishment of theRegiment de Marine on 10 December 1665,[1][3] by the thengrand pensionary of theDutch Republic,Johan de Witt and famous AdmiralMichiel de Ruyter.[1] It is the second-oldeststill-active marine corps in the world.[4]
The present-day Corps is arapid reaction force that can be deployed to any location in the world within a maximum of 48 hours. The marines are capable of operating in all environments and climates, specialising inexpeditionary warfare,amphibious warfare,arctic warfare andmountain warfare.[1][5] The core fighting element of the corps consists of twobattalion-sized Marine Combat Groups (MCGs) which are supplemented by variouscombat support andcombat service supportsquadrons. In addition, theNetherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces (NLMARSOF) are capable of conducting the full spectrum ofspecial operations.
Throughout its history, the Marines have seen action in a number of major conflicts including theAnglo-Dutch Wars, theWar of the Spanish Succession andWorld War II. In recent history the Marines have regularly been deployed instabilisation roles such as theBosnian War, theIraq War, theWar in Afghanistan and theMali War. Additionally, the Corps conducts counterpiracy operations in theGulf of Aden and provides Vessel Protection Detachments (VPDs) to Dutchmerchant ships. The Netherlands Marine Corps uphold close international relations with theRoyal Marines, theUnited States Marine Corps, theSea Battalion (German:Seebataillon) and theSpecial Operations Regiment.
The corps was founded on 10 December 1665 during theSecond Anglo-Dutch War by the thengrand pensionary of theDutch Republic,Johan de Witt, and AdmiralMichiel de Ruyter as theRegiment de Marine.[1] The first commander of the corps wasWillem Joseph van Ghent.[1] The Dutch had successfully used conventional troops embarked on ships during theFirst Anglo-Dutch War. TheKorps Mariniers was the fifth European marine branch formed, being preceded by theSpanish Marine Infantry (1537),Portuguese Marine Corps (1610), France'stroupes de marine (1622) and theRoyal Marines (1664), although the Dutch marines were the first to specialise in amphibious operations.
The Netherlands has had several periods during which its Marine Corps were disbanded. The French occupation of The Netherlands, which lasted from 1810 until 1813, is an example of such disbandments. A new Marine unit was raised on 20 March 1801 during the time of theBatavian Republic and on 14 August 1806 theKorps Koninklijke Grenadiers van de Marine was raised under KingLouis Bonaparte. The modernKorps Mariniers dates back to 1814, receiving its current name in 1817.
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In 1667, led by Admiral van Ghent, and their new commander, the EnglishmanColonel Thomas Dolman, the Regiment de Marine played a prominent part in the Dutchraid on the Medway inKent (10–14 June). TheKorps' battle honour "Chatham" is one of the few ever won on British soil by a foreign unit. The July 2nd attack on Landguard fort nearHarwich, performed by 1,500 Mariniers after landing at Woodrich was defeated by the English.
Themariniers also fought in theFranco-Dutch War andThird Anglo-Dutch War. On 29 June 1672, after serving in theBattle of Solebay, two-thirds of the Marines were withdrawn from theDutch States Navy and formed into a brigade in order to reinforce theDutch States Army, which consisted largely ofmercenaries, in anticipation of a potential English invasion. They returned to their ships in time to help prevent any such invasion by defeating an Anglo-French fleet at theBattle of Texel on 21 August 1673. Led by Gerolf van Isselmuyden, they served in the land battle of Seneffe against the French in 1674.
Dutch support for American independence led to theFourth Anglo-Dutch War, where themariniers served atDogger Bank.
In 1704, Marines were part of a combined English-Dutch force underPrince George of Hesse-Darmstadt thatcapturedGibraltar and defended it successfully shortly afterwards. The cooperation with theBritish was repeated once again during theBombardment of Algiers in 1816.
TheKorps Mariniers served in various colonial operations of theDutch Empire in theDutch East Indies. The gradual conquest of the colony and operations consolidating Dutch rule lasted from the 1850s until shortly beforeWorld War I. The battle honours from theAceh War (1873–1913) andBali are displayed on the Corps' colour.
During theBattle of the Netherlands inWorld War II, aKorps Mariniers unit inRotterdam which was preparing to ship out to the Dutch East Indies successfully defended the bridges across theMaas, preventingGerman paratroopers in the centre of the city from rendez-vousing with conventional German infantry. The Germans ended the stalemate bybombing Rotterdam. The threat of an attack by Marines caused its German captain to scuttle theAntilla inAruba in 1940.[6]
When the Dutchcapitulation was declared and the Marines abandoned their positions, the German commander was surprised to encounter only a handful of troops emerge in their black uniforms. TheOberleutnant ordered his men to salute them out of respect for their bravery and labeled themdie schwarzen Teufel ("The Black Devils").[7][8]
During the German occupation of the Netherlands, somemariniers joined thePrincess Irene Brigade to fight against the Germans. They distinguished themselves in combat near the Dutch city ofTilburg in the autumn of 1944.
Starting in 1943, theUnited States Marine Corps trained and equipped a new brigade, theMariniersbrigade, of theKorps Mariniers atCamp Lejeune andCamp Davis inNorth Carolina in preparation for amphibious landings against theJapanese in the Dutch East Indies. The Japanese surrendered before such landings were needed, but theMariniersbrigade, fully trained and equipped, left North Carolina in six transports in 1945 and fought against Indonesian insurgents in theIndonesian War of Independence. Themariniers were part of the A Division, which was itself commanded by aKorps Mariniers officer. The brigade was disbanded in 1949.
The Dutch maintained control overWestern New Guinea after the Indonesian War of Independence and theKorps Mariniers served there until 1962 when the colony in the course of theWest New Guinea dispute was handed over to theUnited Nations Temporary Executive Authority.
On 11 June 1977, theBijzondere Bijstandseenheid Mariniers (BBE-M, Special Support Unit Marines) of the Dutch Marine Corps stormeda train that was being held hostage since 23 May by armedSouth Moluccan nationalists in the village ofDe Punt, in the province ofDrenthe. SixRoyal Netherlands Air ForceF-104 Starfighters buzzed the train as a diversion just before the assault. Six terrorists and two hostages were killed during the assault.[6]
From 18 February 1992 to 18 November 1993, three battalions of Marines and a Navy field hospital (FDS) were stationed in Cambodia as part of theUnited Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). The marines were deployed following the1991 Paris peace treaty when the civil war was ended, they were tasked with providing safe passage to refugees, disarming rebel groups and organising fair elections.[9]
Marines have deployed toFormer Yugoslavia during multiple deployments, including inBosnia,Kosovo andMacedonia. Marines of 1st Mortars Company were deployed nearSarajevo in 1995 with theirMO-120 RT 120mm mortars in order to neutraliseSerbian mortar and artillery positions.[9] The Marines were part of multinational brigade. For example, Marine Special Forces were tasked with the arrest of Yugoslavian war criminals, other Marine units have deployed to accompany and protect refugee convoys inKosovo.
In 1991, 400 marines in addition 600 personnel of theRoyal Netherlands Army were deployed to theKurdistan Region ofIraq as partOperation Provide Comfort. The detachment of Marines consisted of a staff company, a support company and two infantry companies. The units constructed three refugee camps which were later transferred to civilian organisations. The last marines returned in July 1991.[9]
In 2003 and 2004, two battalions of Marines were deployed toIraq as part of theStabilisation Force Iraq (SFIR). They were stationed in the province ofAl-Muthanna where they operated under British command. Their main base was located at Camp Smitty in As Samawah. One company of marines was located at the village of Ar Rumaythah and one at the village of Al Khidr.
Since 2015, Marines have contributed toOperation Inherent Resolve by providing training to thePeshmerga and theIraqi Special Operations Forces as part of theInternational military intervention against ISIL. A&A teams cooperated with theKorps Commandotroepen by providing advice and assistance to Iraqi troops in the fight against ISIL.
From 18 November 2003 until 19 February 2004, one platoon of Dutch Marines was deployed on boardHNLMS Rotterdam, a Landing platform dock (LPD) of theRoyal Netherlands Navy to provide logistical support forUnited Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
Between 2005 and 2006, Major General of the MarinesPatrick Cammaert was appointed division commander of theUnited Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) byUN secretary generalKofi Annan.
From 11 January 2002 to July 2010, marines were deployed in Afghanistan as part of theInternational Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The second battalion and the field hospital were deployed inMazar-e Sharif in 2005 to provide security during the elections. Marines and Navy personnel were also stationed in theProvincial Reconstruction Team in pol-e-Khomri, province of Baghlan. They took over from the Dutch Air force and Army in 2005 and were relieved in October 2006 when Hungarian forces took over. Formerly Marines have served inUruzgan as the NLD Operational Mentor and Liaisons Team, for recruiting and training new military personnel of theAfghan National Army in the Uruzgan province. Training took place atKamp Holland,Tarin Kowt. A reinforced company was deployed in the Deh Rashan area of Uruzgan province. Two marines were killed on April 17 of 2010 when theirBv S10 Viking was hit by anIED.[10] Teams of NLMARSOF cooperated with operators of theKorps Commandotroepen (KCT) in the Special Operations Task Groups Orange, Task Force Viper and Task Force 55 from 2006 until 2010.
C-Squadron of NLMARSOF has deployed to Afghanistan since 2018 as part of theResolute Support Mission. Together with KCT operators they form the Special Operations Advisory Team (SOAT), which is tasked with providing training and assistance to the Afghanpolice tactical unit Afghan Territorial Force 888 (ATF-888) of theAfghan National Police.
Since 2008 marines have been deployed asboarding teams aboard naval ships of theRoyal Netherlands Navy, tasked with conducting counterpiracy operations off the coast ofEast Africa. The Dutch marines received international attention following theAction of 5 April 2010, during which thecontainer ship MVTaipan was liberated fromSomali pirates by an NLMARSOF boarding team. The operation was filmed using a helmet-mounted camera and made public by the Ministry of Defence, consequently displayed by news media across the globe. Moreover, NLMARSOF frogmen have conducted extremely rare operational underwater operations, including the sabotage of pirate ships. Since 2011 the Corps has provided Vessel Protection Detachments (VPDs) to Dutch merchant vessels sailing through areas prone to piracy.[9]
The Corps is headed by theKorpscommandant, an officer in the rank ofBrigadier General. All operational units fall under the command of theGroepscommandant Operationele Eenheden Mariniers (GC-OEM, Group Commander Operational Units Marines). The brigade-level command element Netherlands Maritime Force (NLMARFOR) is the expeditionary operational staff headquarters which is commanded by aColonel. The core fighting element of the corps consists of two battalion-sized Marine Combat Groups (MCGs), 1st Marine Combat Group is the main contribution of the Netherlands Marine Corps to the United Kingdom/Netherlands Landing Force (UK/NL LF).
Following the large scale reorganisation of the Armed Forces in 2013, the Corps was affected as well. The Corps was restructured, among other changes.[11] The battalion composition and naming was changed:[12][13]
The Corps consists of two battalion-sized Marine Combat Groups (MCGs), 1st MCG and 2nd MCG, which are headed by aLieutenant Colonel and each field approximately 726 men with a command staff consisting of 30 men each.
The three Raiding Squadrons of each MCG are commanded byMajors and consist of 108 men each. The Raiding Squadrons each field three Raiding Troops with two Raiding Sections of 16 men each per troop.
The Recce, Surveillance & Target Acquisition (RSTA) Squadrons are commanded by a Major and consist of 87 men. Each RSTA Squadron fields a forward Observer Troop with four Fire Support Teams of six men each, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System section withAeroVironment RQ-11 Raven andAeroVironment RQ-20 Puma UAVs, a Reconnaissance Sniper Troop, a Mortar Troop withL16 81mm mortars and a Low Altitude Air Defense section. In addition, the RSTA Squadron staff provides Joint Fires Cells for its Marine Combat Group in order to coordinate all types of fire support.
The Combat Support Squadrons consist of 114 men and field a staff, an Assault Engineer Troop, an Anti-Armour Troop, and an Armoured All-Terrain Vehicle Troop. Each of these three troops fields three identical sections, with each section supporting one Raiding Squadron of the Marine Combat Group. The Assault Engineer Troop also providesImprovised Explosive Device detection capabilities. The Anti-Armour Troop provides direct fire support withSpikeanti-tank guided missiles. The Armoured All-Terrain Vehicle Troop providesBv 206S andBvS 10 armoured all-terrain personnel carriers to transport the three Raiding Squadrons.
The Combat Service Support Squadron fields 171 personnel and provide maintenance, medical, and logistic support. Each Combat Service Support Squadron consists of a Workshop Troop, a Transport Troop, an Equipment Support Troop, a Medical Support Troop, and a Communication and Information Systems Troop.
In 2014, 13e Raiding Squadron was the first unit to complete additional training to become certified maritime special operations capable (MARSOC).[14] A MARSOC unit can support and conduct special operations with NLMARSOF.[14][5]
TheNetherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces (NLMARSOF) is theSOF element of the Corps. NLMARSOF consists of two operational squadrons, a training squadron, a logistic element and a support group. TheMaritime Counter Terrorism Squadron (M-Squadron) consists of three troops and is tasked with combating large-scale and complex domestic terrorist threats. It operates as an integral element of theDienst Speciale Interventies (DSI) of theNational Police. The Conventional Squadron (C-Squadron) is tasked with conducting the full spectrum of special operations abroad. C-Squadron fields three troops; twofrogman troops specialised in underwater operations and onemountain leader troop specialised in mountain warfare. C-Squadron can be deployed by submarine, parachute, various underwater transport and snowmobiles. The Training Squadron (T-Squadron) trains all aspiring MARSOF operators in addition to providing operational training. The Special Operations Forces Support Group (SOFSG) provides operational support while the Logistic Support Group (LSG) is responsible for the maintenance, acquisition and storage of all equipment.
NLMARSOF was founded in 2013 by merging theMountain Leader Reconnaissance Platoon, theUnit Interventie Mariniers and the Special Forces Underwater Operator Platoon. The maritime SOF training takes about 40 weeks, and eligible marines are trained to become long-range reconnaissance SOF operators andcounter-terrorism specialists, with an emphasis on maritime special operations. Those who wish to specialise as mountain leader or frogman can apply for these specialisations following the completion of training. NLMARSOF is modelled after the BritishSpecial Boat Squadron.
The Surface Assault and Training Group (SATG) provides the Marine Corps with maritime vessels. The Surface Assault and Training Group consists of 241 men; besides the staff it fields an Amphibious Support Group, a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Troop, a Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) Troop, a Fast Raiding Interception and Special Forces Craft (FRISC) Squadron, a Landing Craft Control Team Light and a Landing Craft Control Team Heavy. The Amphibious Support Group provides logistical support for the SATG. The LCU Troop fields fiveLanding Craft Utility with their crews, while the LCVP Troop fields 12 LCVPs with their crews.
The FRISC Squadron fields three troops: a troop with Raiding Crafts for the Marine Combat Groups, a troop with Maritime Counter Terrorism Crafts (MCT) for the Maritime Counter Terrorism Squadron, and a troop with Special Operation and Interceptor Crafts for the Conventional Squadron of the Maritime Special Operations Forces. The two Landing Craft Control Teams consist of a staff, a Beach Recce Group, a Beach Control Group and a Heavy Vehicle Group. The Landing Craft Control Team Heavy is equipped withLeopard 1 BARV beach armoured recovery vehicles. Both Beach Recce Groups field a team of divers to clear mines, barriers and other obstacles from landing beaches.
The Seabased Support Group (SSG) fields 98 men and coordinates maritime operational logistic support for Marine units embarked on one theRotterdam-class amphibious transport docks. The Seabased Support Group fields an Equipment Support Troop, a Weapons and Ammo Troop, a Workshop and Transport Troop and a Communications and Information Systems (CIS) Troop.
The 32nd Raiding Squadron (Dutch Caribbean Forces) consists of 153 personnel and is stationed inAruba and is responsible for the defence of theNetherlands Antilles. The 32nd Raiding Squadron falls operationally under the command of the Naval Commander of theCaribbean (CZMCARIB). 32nd Raiding Squadron is stationed at theKorps Mariniers Barracks Savaneta (Aruba). Marines on Aruba also participate in anti-drug operations. The squadron is commanded by a Major and consists of a Headquarters, 3 Raiding troops, and the following supporting units a Fast Raiding, Interception and Special Forces Craft (FRISC) troop (with 12 boats), and a combat service support troop for transport, logistics, maintenance and medical care.
The Marine Training Command (MTC) is tasked with the validation, qualification and training of all operational units of the Corps. Furthermore, the command is responsible for maintaining adequate readiness and quality through the implementation of stringent training standards. Its training programs are adapted to the programs of its fleet equivalent, the Sea Training Command (STC), in order to maximise efficiency and interoperability of the marines and the fleet. The command is headed by a Colonel.
The Marine Education Centre (Mariniersopleidingscentrum, MOC) is tasked with the selection, training and education of new marine recruits. The MOC provides all marine basic training and is based at the Van Ghent Barracks inRotterdam, headed by a Lieutenant Colonel.
The majority of the operational units are based at theVan Braam Houckgeestkazerne inDoorn, in the province ofUtrecht. These barracks are the headquarters of the Marine Combat Groups, Sea-based Support Group, and the staff and M-Squadron of NLMARSOF. Due to obsolescence of the location a new base is being constructed atKamp Nieuw Milligen near the city ofApeldoorn. TheVan Ghentkazerne is based in the city ofRotterdam and provides the basic training and many other training courses within the Corps. TheJoost Dourleinkazerne is based on the island ofTexel and functions as a forward operating base for the Surface Assault and Training Group from which all sorts of amphibious training can be employed. Moreover, the Corps has multiple bases and auxiliary branches in theDutch Caribbean. Below follows an overview of the Corps' bases:
Van Braam Houckgeestkazerne—Doorn,Utrecht
Van Ghentkazerne—Rotterdam,South Holland
Joost Dourleinkazerne—Texel,North Holland
Marinebasis Parera—Willemstad,Curaçao
Marinierskazerne Savaneta—Savaneta,Aruba
Marinekazerne Suffisant—Curaçao
Marinesteunpunt Pointe Blanche—Sint MaartenThemariniers are known for their arduous training programmes, which are primarily focused around hardship. Due to its longstanding and close cooperation with its British counterpart, theRoyal Marines, training programmes are highly similar for both organisations. Although women have been allowed to join theKorps Mariniers since the beginning of 2017, no woman has successfully completed basic training yet.[as of?]
Depending on the educational background, there are two career possibilities to become a Dutch marine:enlisted marine and marineofficer. An overview of marine training courses:
During operational training, there is more emphasis on various other tactics in amphibious warfare, and it will take about a year to become MARSOC (Maritime Special Operations Capable) certified, which will last for two years. SOCs are able to operate within any environment in the world, under any condition and circumstance. Therefore Dutch marines regularly train inarctic,jungle,desert,high-altitude,maritime andurban conditions, and embark on various training missions throughout the world. In these two years SOCs will work closely with MARSOF platoons throughout the world, and can choose to enlist for further specialization.
Experienced marines are able to obtain various specialisations. It is common for marines to have multiple specialisations.Popular specialisations include: weapons instructor, mortar, communications, or heavy weapons specialist, designated marksman, sniper, assault engineer, medic or free-fall para. Some of these specialisations require the rank ofCorporal before being able to follow specialisation training, and must not exceed a maximum age.
The Corps has multiple distinctive uniforms. The Corps' standardcombat uniform is based on theBattle Dress Uniform (BDU) in thewoodland pattern, as opposed to theDisruptive Pattern Material (DPM)-based combat uniform of the other services of theNetherlands Armed Forces. This combat uniform is due to be replaced by new uniforms in theNetherlands Fractal Pattern from 2023 onwards. Operators of NLMARSOF and other selected units wear combat uniforms in the commercialMultiCam pattern.
Theservice dress uniform can be worn during everyday office, barracks and non-field duty purposes. The uniform consists oftrousers with red piping and a single breasted jacket (both in dark-blue fabric), a whitedress shirt with a blacknecktie and headgear (beret orpeaked cap). The uniform can be supplemented with brown leather gloves,decorations worn inPrussian arrangement and a belt with aholster.
Themess dress uniform is worn during formal occasions, such as adinner or aball and consists of amess jacket, trousers with red piping, white shirt, and black bow tie complemented with a peaked cap and miniature medals.
Thefull dress uniform consists of a dark-blue jacket with a red standing collar, dark-blue trousers with red piping, orangesash (worn by officers),pith helmet,fourragères, white gloves and asabre.
Unlike the United States Marine Corps and the Royal Marines which use army rank insigna, the Corps uses naval rank insignia on all uniforms.
The Netherlands Marine Corps was granted acolour (Dutch:vaandel) byQueen Wilhelmina on 16 September 1929 and was renewed in 1988. The colour forms the embodiment of the history and character of the Corps. In contrast to the functional use of colours in the past, during which they served as landmarks on the battlefield, the contemporary role has been greatly reduced. Nonetheless, the colour continues to play an important role during various military ceremonies. For example, soldiers swear the oath of enlistment while holding the colour. Moreover, the colour constitutes an important connection between the Corps and theRoyal House of the Netherlands. Only the sovereign can grant a military unit a colour or standard, therefore theroyal cypher of the monarch that granted the regiment its (original) colour is displayed. In addition, the colour is inscribed with (historical) battle honours. By prominently displaying them, the aim is to add to theesprit de corps, uphold the collective memory and serve as inspiration for future actions.
The colour of theKorps Mariniers is distinct from other Dutch colours by the display of blueanchors in the four corners. The lanyard of theMilitary William Order, which it was granted in 1946 for actions in World War II, is permanently attached to the colour as well. Thebattle honours as they appear on theKorps Mariniers'colours are:Spanje -Algiers,West-Indië,Seneffe,Kijkduin -Doggersbank,Atjeh -Bali,Chatham,Rotterdam,Javazee,Java -Madoera,Nieuw-Guinea. In 2019, it was announced that the Corps was being granted a new battle honour for display on the colour for actions in Afghanistan;Helmand -Kandahar -Uruzgan.
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Netherlands Marine Corps[17][18] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| Generaal | Luitenant-generaal | Generaal-majoor | Brigade-generaal | Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein | 1e Luitenant | 2e Luitenant | |||||||||||||||
| English equivalent | General | Lieutenant General | Major General | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | ||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands Marine Corps[17][18] |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjudant-onderofficier | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant | Korporaal | Marinier der 1e klasse | Marinier der 2e klasse | Marinier der 3e klasse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| English equivalent | Warrant Officer | Sergeant Major | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Marine 1st Class | Marine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Since 1972,[19] units of the Netherlands Marine Corps have formed part of the British3 Commando Brigade during exercises and real conflict situations. Also Mountain Warfare /Force Reconnaissance Troop of C Squadron NLMARSOF will be placed under UK operational command as part of C Squadron, UKSpecial Boat Service. Together, these form the UK/NL AF. Either the First or the Second Marine Combat Group can be assigned as the Dutch contribution to this force. UK/NL AF contributes to the European Multinational Maritime Force (EMMF).
The cooperation between theKorps Mariniers and theRoyal Marines has led to extensive integration in the areas of operations, logistics and materials. WithinNATO this is seen as a prime example of what can be achieved in military integration.
The NLMC andRoyal Marines have a long history of cooperation. During combined actions by the British and Dutch navies during theWar of the Spanish Succession (1702–1713), amphibious operations were carried out, the most notable being theCapture of Gibraltar in 1704. During this action, a successful attack was carried out against the fortress ofGibraltar by an 1800-strong brigade of Dutch and British Marines under the command ofPrince George of Hesse-Darmstadt. Both corps share this battle honour.
The British and Dutch armed forces share close relations. TheRoyal Marines and Netherlands Marine Corps are allied through a 'Bond of friendship'.
The nickname of the Dutch Marines among their British Royal Marine counterparts is "Cloggies," due to the stereotype that most or all Dutch wearclogs, instead of normal footwear.
Royal Marines (Bond of Friendship)
United States Marine Corps (Bond of Friendship)
Seebataillon (German Marines integrated into theKorps Mariniers)
Special Operations Regiment
