The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) (, , meaning 'Royal Navy') is the maritime service branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. It traces its history to 8 January 1488, making it the third-oldest navy in the world.
During the 17th and early 18th centuries, the Dutch States Navy was one of the most powerful navies in the world and played an active role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars, Franco-Dutch War, Nine Years' War and War of the Spanish Succession. However, by the late 18th century it had declined through neglect and was no longer a match for either the British or French navies. The Batavian Navy and navy of the Kingdom of Holland played an active role in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, though both were repeatedly yoked to French interests.
Officially formed in 1813 after the Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands was established, the Royal Netherlands Navy played an important role in protecting the Dutch East Indies, and would play a minor role in World War II, where it fought against the Imperial Japanese Navy. Since World War II, the Royal Netherlands Navy has taken part in several peacekeeping missions, and frequently participates in European Union and NATO operations and exercises.
Ship prefixes The international prefix for ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy is HNLMS (His/Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship). The Netherlands navy itself uses the prefixes Zr.Ms. () when a King is on the throne, and Hr.Ms. () when there is a Queen. Changes happen automatically at the end of a monarch's reign.
History
The modern Netherlands Navy dates its founding to a "statute of admiralty" issued by Maximilian, King of the Romans (future Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I), and his son Philip the Fair, the ruler of Burgundian lands (a minor at that time) on 8 January 1488.
Netherlands Golden Age
The Netherlands navy was involved in several wars against other European powers from the late 16th century, initially for independence against Spain in European waters, later for shipping lanes, trade and colonies in many parts of the world, notably during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. During the 17th century the Dutch States Navy was one of the most powerful navies in the world. As an organization, the Dutch navy consisted of five separate admiralties (three of them in Holland, and one each in Friesland and Zeeland), each with its own ships, personnel, shipyards, command structures and revenues.Rodger, N. A. M. (2004) Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815. Penguin Books, London; pp. 9–10
World War II
At the start of WWII the Dutch had five cruisers, eight destroyers, 24 submarines, and smaller vessels, along with 50 aircraft. The Netherlands was conquered in 1940 by Nazi Germany in a matter of days, and two Dutch light cruisers and one destroyer leader and three destroyers that were under construction were captured in their shipyard.
For the rest of the war, the Dutch navy was based in Allied countries: the Dutch navy had its headquarters in London, and smaller units in Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka) and Western Australia. Around the world Dutch naval units were responsible for transporting troops, for example during Operation Dynamo at Dunkirk and on D-Day, they escorted convoys and attacked enemy targets. Dutch submarines scored some victories, including one on a Kriegsmarine U-boat in the Mediterranean Sea, which was sunk by , but during the war the Dutch Navy suffered heavy losses, particularly in the Pacific Theatre.
A small force of submarines based in Western Australia sank more Japanese ships in the first weeks after Japan joined the war than the entire British and American navies together during the same period, an exploit which earned Admiral Helfrich the nickname "Ship-a-day Helfrich". The aggressive pace of operations against the Japanese was a contributing factor to both the heavy losses sustained and the greater number of successes scored as compared to the British and Americans in the region.
But during the relentless Japanese offensive of February through April 1942 in the Dutch East Indies, the Dutch navy in Asia was virtually annihilated, particularly in the Battle of the Java Sea (27 February 1942) in which the commander, Karel Doorman, went down with his fleet along with 1,000 sailors. The Navy sustained losses of a total of 20 ships (including two of its three light cruisers) and 2,500 sailors killed in the course of the campaign. The Dutch navy had suffered from years of underfunding and came ill-prepared to face an enemy with more and heavier ships with better weapons, including the Long Lance-torpedo, with which the cruiser sank the light cruiser .Dr. L. de Jong, Het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden in de Tweede Wereldoorlog (Dutch), 14 parts, part 11a-I-second half, RIOD, Amsterdam, 1975
Decolonization
After the war, relations between the Netherlands and its colonial empire changed dramatically. The establishment of the Republic of Indonesia, two days after the Japanese surrender, thwarted Dutch plans for restoring colonial authority. The navy made a modest contribution to the Dutch police actions and after four years of conflict, the Netherlands ceded sovereignty to Indonesia in 1949.
Elements of the Dutch navy remained stationed in Indonesia for the Dutch Military Mission until 1954 and in Dutch New Guinea until the New York Agreement came into effect in 1962. The latter had been preceded by a combined Soviet–Indonesian military operation, which the Dutch navy successfully repulsed in the Battle of Arafura Sea.
The Dutch departure from Southeast Asia had immediate consequences for the purpose of the navy, as its focus shifted to anti-submarine warfare and securing shipping lanes in a joint European and North Atlantic context.
European Union cooperation The Navy has participated in joint European Union naval operations and exercises. Ten separate Dutch vessels have contributed to the EU Naval Force Operation Atalanta, combating Somali piracy forces in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean since 2009. The last vessel was sent in 2018; since then the Navy has only contributed staff and advisors to the mission.
NATO cooperation
With the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the military focus was on the army and air force; it was not until the Korean War (1950–1953) that the navy got more recognition. The government allowed the creation of a balanced fleet consisting of two naval squadrons. Apart from the aircraft carrier the Dutch navy consisted of two light cruisers (two ), 12 destroyers (four , eight ), eight submarines, six frigates (s), and a considerable number of minesweepers.
As a member of NATO, the Netherlands developed its security policy in close cooperation with other members. The establishment of the Warsaw Pact in 1955 intensified the arms race between West and East. Technical innovations rapidly emerged, the introduction of radar and sonar were followed by nuclear weapon systems and long-range missiles. The geopolitical situation allowed for a fixed military strategy. Beginning in 1965, the Dutch Navy joined certain permanent NATO squadrons like the Standing Naval Force Atlantic.
Structure The constituent parts of the Royal Netherlands Navy are:
Naval squadron Contains all surface combatants, replenishment ships, and amphibious support ships.
Submarine service
Houses the submarines and a support vessel.
Mine Detection and Clearing Service
Contains various minehunters.
Hydrographic Service The Hydrographic Service is responsible for relevant hydrographic surveys.
Social Medical Service Provides healthcare to personnel of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Directorate of Materiel Sustainment The Directorate of Materiel Sustainment is responsible for the maintenance of ships, submarines and systems.
Naval aviation
Two squadrons equipped with NH90 NFH helicopter based at De Kooy Airfield.
Netherlands Marine Corps
Two Marine Combat Groups (1 MCG and 2 MCG) One Maritime Special Operations Force (NLMARSOF) One Surface Assault and Training Group (SATG) One Seabased Support Group (SSG) 32 Raiding Squadron (permanently stationed at Aruba) Rotterdam Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy
Dutch Caribbean Naval Command Command of the Royal Netherlands Navy that is responsible for national defense and international law enforcement in the Dutch Caribbean.
Netherlands and Dutch Caribbean Coastguard Although the Netherlands Coastguard is not an official part of the Navy, it is under its operational control. Also the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard is under the operational control of the Navy and is commanded by the commander of the Navy in the Caribbean.
+Coastguard aircraftAircraftOriginTypeCoastguard baseIn serviceNotesBombardier Dash 8 MPACanadaPatrol / SARSchiphol - The Netherlands2Bombardier Dash 8 MPACanadaPatrol / SARHATO - Curaçao Dutch Caribbean2AgustaWestland AW169ItalySAR / TransportHATO - Curaçao Dutch Caribbean 2 AgustaWestland AW189ItalySARDen Helder & Midden Zeeland - The Netherlands 3Operated by Bristow Helicopters.
Bases The main naval base, Nieuwe Haven Naval Base is situated in Den Helder, North Holland. Secondary bases are situated around Den Helder, as well as in Amsterdam, and Willemstad on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, Usage rights are also in place for port facilities in Rotterdam, Vlissingen and Eemshaven. The Netherlands Marine Corps has barracks in Rotterdam, Doorn, Texel and Den Helder, as well as in the Caribbean at Suffisant on Curaçao, and Savaneta on Aruba. There is also Pointe Blanche Naval Support Point in Sint Maarten.
Officer training Officers of the Nederland Navy are trained at the Royal Naval Institute (), which is part of the Netherlands defence academy () in Den Helder. Around 100-120 people start training every year.
Ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy Ships
The Royal Netherlands Navy currently operates 7 main classes of vessels: Note: in the Royal Netherlands Navy frigates are interchangeable with destroyers as there is no separate class Type ship Defence White Paper 1974 Defence White Paper 1984 Priority Document 1993 Navy study 2005 Economize 2011Defence White Paper 2018 LC frigates 4 44 M frigates 4 8 8 2 22 GW frigates 2 2 2 L frigates 1 2 2 S frigates 12 10 6 MLM frigates 6 Frigates 25 22 18 6 66 Patrol ships 4 44 Submarine 6 6 4 4 44 Supply ships 2 2 2 1 1 LPD 1 2 22 JSS 1 11 Minehunters 15 15 15 10 66 Minesweepers 11 11 Total ships 59 56 40 28 2324 LRMP aircraft 21 13 13 Helicopters 36 30 20 20 2020 Total aircraft 57 43 33 20 2020
The Royal Netherlands Navy classifies the De Zeven Provinciën-class as frigates, but internationally they are most comparable to destroyers (due to their size and weapon capability) platform for Sea Based Anti-Ballistic Missile defence
Inventory