Editing Netherlands Armed Forces (section)

=== Organization ===
[[File:CDS_Onno_Eichelsheim_commando-overdracht_Ridderzaal_2.jpg|thumb|Chief of Defence [[general]] [[Onno Eichelsheim]] during the acceptance ceremony of the command over the Netherlands Armed Forces, April 2021.]]
The existence of, authority over, and tasks of the armed forces are determined in the [[constitution of the Netherlands]]. [[Cabinet of the Netherlands|The Government]], which consists of cabinet members led by the [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Prime Minister]] and the [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|King]], functions as the head of the armed forces. Although service members swear allegiance to the [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|King of the Netherlands]], the monarch does not hold the position of [[commander-in-chief]]. Therefore, in practice, important decisions are made by Cabinet, while the [[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands|Minister of Defence]] assumes political responsibility over the Ministry.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

The [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Ministry of Defence]] is the government ministry which is responsible for formulating and executing defence policy. The ministry consists of the Minister, [[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands#List of State Secretaries for Defence|State Secretary]], the Central Staff, the Netherlands Armed Forces and two independent support organizations. The Central Staff ({{lang|nl|Bestuursstaf}}) of the Ministry comprises several directorates responsible for executing policy, advising the Minister and State Secretary, and controlling the Defence organization. The Central Staff is led by the highest civil servant of the defence organization, the Secretary General. Moreover, the Central Staff incorporates the Defence Staff, which is the highest military organ under command of the [[Chief of Defence (Netherlands)|Chief of Defence]]. The Chief of Defence is the military leader of the Netherlands Armed Forces and the most senior military adviser to the Minister of Defence. The Chief of Defence has command over the Armed Forces, the [[Netherlands Special Operations Command]] (NLD SOCOM) and the [[Defence Cyber Command]]. Several special executive organizations, including the [[Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service|Military Intelligence and Security Service]] and the office of the Inspector General, are incorporated into the Central Staff as well.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}