Editing Netherlands Armed Forces (section)

==== Contribution to ISAF ====
{{Main|Task Force Uruzgan}}
As part of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]], the Netherlands deployed aircraft which were integrated in the European Participating Air Force (EPAF) in support of ground operations in [[Afghanistan]]. Additionally, Dutch naval frigates were tasked with policing the waters of the Middle East and Indian Ocean. Between 2001 and 2003, a reinforced army company was deployed to Afghanistan to provide support in maintaining public order and providing security in and around the capital [[Kabul]].<ref>{{cite news |title=De opbouw van ISAF in Afghanistan sinds 2001 |url=https://www.parool.nl/nieuws/de-opbouw-van-isaf-in-afghanistan-sinds-2001~b65e3883d/ |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=Het Parool |date=30 July 2010}}</ref> Furthermore, military assistance was provided to the [[Afghan National Army]] and local security forces. The troops were deployed under the command of [[NATO]]'s [[International Security Assistance Force]] mission.

[[File:Dutch patrol Afghanistan August 2008.jpg|thumb|A patrol of Task Force Uruzgan moving towards an over-watch position near Mirabad Valley, in 2008.]]
The Netherlands deployed further troops and helicopters to Afghanistan in 2006 as part of a new security operation in the south of the country.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4673026.stm |title=More Dutch troops for Afghanistan |work=[[BBC News]] |date=3 February 2006 |access-date=7 June 2012}}</ref> In mid-2006, Dutch special forces of the [[Korps Commandotroepen]] as part of the Deployment Task Force successfully deployed to [[Tarin Kowt]] to lay the ground for the increasing numbers of [[Combat engineer|engineers]] who were due to build a base there.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dimitriu |first1=G.R. |last2=Tuinman |first2=G.P. |last3=van der Vorm |first3=M. |title=Operationele ontwikkeling van de Nederlandse Special Operations Forces, 2005–2010 |trans-title=Operational development of the Dutch Special Operations Forces, 2005–2010 |language=nl |date=2012 |volume=108 |issue=3 |url=https://www.militairespectator.nl/sites/default/files/uitgaven/inhoudsopgave/MS%203-2012%20Van%20der%20Vorm%20Nederlandse%20Special%20Operations%20Forces.pdf |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref> By August 2006 the Netherlands had deployed the majority of 1,400 troops to [[Uruzgan]] province in southern Afghanistan at [[Multi National Base Tarin Kot|Kamp Holland]] in [[Tarinkot|Tarin Kowt]] (1,200) and Kamp Hadrian in [[Deh Rahwod]] (200).<ref name="uruz">{{cite web |title=Eindevaluatie Nederlandse bijdrage aan ISAF, 2006 – 2010 |trans-title=Final evaluation of the Dutch contribution to ISAF, 2006 – 2010 |language=nl |url=https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/detail?id=2011Z18859&did=2011D46975 |website=www.tweedekamer.nl |publisher=Cabinet of the Netherlands |access-date=5 May 2020 |date=28 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Derksen |first1=Sebastiaan |title=De Nederlandse missie in Uruzgan: 'COIN gekortwiekt?' |trans-title=The Dutch mission in Uruzgan: 'COIN trimmed?' |language=nl |url=https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/31900/EINDTHESIS%20DERKSEN%20S1073656.pdf?sequence=1 |access-date=5 May 2020 |publisher=[[Universiteit Leiden]]}}</ref> [[PzH 2000]] self-propelled artillery pieces were deployed and used in combat for the first time.<ref name="chora" /> The Dutch forces operated under the command of the [[ISAF]] [[Task Force Uruzgan]] and were involved in some of the more intensive [[Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006|combat operations]] in southern Afghanistan, including [[Operation Medusa]] and the [[Battle of Chora]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Nederlanders vochten mee in operatie Medusa |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/nederlanders-vochten-mee-in-operatie-medusa~b7edf0e0/ |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=De Volkskrant |agency=ANP |date=15 September 2006}}</ref><ref name="chora">{{cite journal |last1=Vrijsen |first1=Eric |title=Het gevecht om Chora |journal=[[Elsevier (magazine)|Elsevier]] |date=5 January 2008 |volume=1 |url=https://cdn.prod.elseone.nl/uploads/2018/06/Chora.pdf |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref> On 18 April 2008, on the second day of his command, the son of ''then''-[[Chief of Defence (Netherlands)|Chief of Defence]] general [[Peter van Uhm]], Lieutenant Dennis van Uhm, was one of two servicemen killed by a road-side explosion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Son of Top Dutch General Is Killed in Afghanistan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/world/asia/19afghanistan.html |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=Associated Press |date=19 April 2008}}</ref> As of 1 September 2008, the Netherlands had a total of 1,770 troops in Afghanistan excluding special forces troops.<ref>{{cite web |title=ISAF Key Fact and Figures Placemat |url=https://www.nato.int/isaf/placemats_archive/2008-09-01-ISAF-Placemat.pdf |website=www.nato.int |publisher=[[NATO]] |access-date=5 May 2020 |date=1 September 2008}}</ref>

Between 2002 and 2021, Dutch military personnel worked successively in the Afghan provinces of Kabul, Baghlan, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Kunduz and Balkh, with the aim, among other things, to bring stability and to build up the security apparatus, the army and the police.<ref>{{cite web |title=Afghanistan |url=https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/missie-in-afghanistan/einde-aan-missie-in-afghanistan|website=www.defensie.nl|date=19 May 2021 }}</ref>
In total, 25 Dutch servicemen were [[killed in action]] during the deployment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Afghanistan |url=https://www.veteraneninstituut.nl/missie/afghanistan/ |website=www.veteraneninstituut.nl |publisher=Veteraneninstituut |access-date=5 May 2020 |date=2 October 2014}}</ref>