Editing Netherlands Armed Forces (section)

== Service branches ==
=== Royal Netherlands Navy ===
{{Main|Royal Netherlands Navy}}
[[File:De Zeven Provinciën At-Sea Demo Formidable Shield 2021.jpg|thumb|[[HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802)|HNLMS ''De Zeven Provinciën'']] during exercise At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield 2021 on the [[Atlantic Ocean]].]]
The Royal Netherlands Navy ({{langx|nl|Koninklijke Marine}}) is the Netherlands Armed Forces' maritime force which consists of [[List of active Royal Netherlands Navy ships|24 commissioned ships]] and an additional number of support ships of various types. The Navy is commanded by the [[Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy]] ({{langx|nl|Commandant Zeestrijdkrachten}}), an officer in the rank of [[Vice Admiral]] or [[Lieutenant General|Lieutenant General of the Marines]], who reports directly to the [[Chief of Defence (Netherlands)|Chief of Defence]]. In addition to being the commanding officer of the Royal Netherlands Navy, the {{lang|nl|Commandant Zeestrijdkrachten}} holds the position of [[Admiral Benelux]]. As such, the {{lang|nl|Commandant Zeestrijdkrachten}} is the commanding officer of the operational units of the Royal Netherlands Navy and the [[Belgian Naval Component]].

The surface fleet of the Navy consist of [[frigate]]s, [[amphibious warfare ship]]s, [[Patrol boat|patrol vessels]], [[Minesweeper|mine-countermeasure vessels]] and multiple [[auxiliary ship]]s. All major surface vessels of the Royal Netherlands Navy are constructed at the Dutch [[shipyard]] [[Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding]]. This includes the technologically advanced air-defence frigates of the [[De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate|''De Zeven Provinciën''-class]]. [[Thales Nederland]] produces various types of high-end [[sensor]]s and [[radar]]s for the Dutch fleet.

The [[Royal Netherlands Navy Submarine Service]] ({{langx|nl|Onderzeedienst}}) was established in 1906 and is responsible for the operation of all [[List of submarines of the Netherlands|Dutch submarines]]. As of 2021, the {{lang|nl|Onderzeedienst}} operates four [[Walrus-class submarine|''Walrus''-class submarines]] and one [[submarine tender]], [[HNLMS Mercuur (A900)|HNLMS ''Mercuur'']]. The Dutch submarines fulfill a considerable role within [[NATO]] as their small size and expeditionary capacities allow them to operate in waters that are off-limits to larger submarines. The Ministry of Defence initiated a replacement program in November 2014. in March 2024 the winning bid was announced with the newer class being called [[Orka-class submarine|Orka-class]] and are planned to enter service in the late 2030s.[https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/03/the-netherlands-select-naval-group-for-its-new-submarines/ The Netherlands Select Naval Group for its New Submarines]

==== Netherlands Marine Corps ====
{{Main|Netherlands Marine Corps}}

The Netherlands Marine Corps is the Navy's [[Marines|naval infantry]] corps. The Corps consist of two battalion-sized Marine Combat Groups, various support units and the [[Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces]]. The Marines are specialized in [[amphibious warfare|amphibious]], [[arctic warfare|arctic]] and [[mountain warfare]] as well as [[special operations]]. The Corps operates a fleet of landing craft that can operate from one of the two Navy's [[amphibious transport dock]]s.

[[File:Luchtmobiele brigade mali.jpg|left|thumb|Troops of [[11th Airmobile Brigade (Netherlands)|11 Air Assault Brigade]] disembarking a [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook|CH-47D Chinook]] in [[Mali]].]]

=== Royal Netherlands Army ===
{{Main|Royal Netherlands Army}}

The Royal Netherlands Army ({{langx|nl|Koninklijke Landmacht}}) consists of regular Army personnel and the [[National Reserve Corps]]. The Army is headed by the [[Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army]] ({{langx|nl|Commandant Landstrijdkrachten}}), its headquarters are located on the {{lang|nl|Kromhoutkazerne}} in [[Utrecht]]. The core fighting element of the Army consist of three combat brigades: [[11th Airmobile Brigade (Netherlands)|11 Airmobile Brigade]], [[13th Light Brigade (Netherlands)|13 Light Brigade]] and [[43rd Mechanized Brigade (Netherlands)|43 Mechanized Brigade]]. The brigade-sized [[Operational Support Command Land]] fields a variety of [[combat support]] and [[combat service support]] units while the Army's [[special operations forces]] are part of the {{lang|nl|[[Korps Commandotroepen]]}}. The Army's [[infantry]] regiments fulfil several distinct roles, these include [[air assault]], [[Mechanized infantry|armoured infantry]], [[light infantry]] and [[special operations]]. Furthermore, the Army fields [[cavalry]], [[artillery]], [[Military engineering|engineering]] and [[Combat medic|medical]] regiments.

[[File:Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A Lightning II cannon trials from Edwards Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|RNLAF F-35A Lightning II during cannon trials in October 2018.]]

=== Royal Netherlands Air Force ===
{{Main|Royal Netherlands Air Force}}

The Royal Netherlands Air Force ({{langx|nl|Koninklijke Luchtmacht}}) is the [[military aviation]] branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces and is led by the [[Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force]] ({{lang|nl|Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten}}). The Air Force operates a diverse fleet of [[Fixed-wing aircraft|fixed-wing]] and [[Rotorcraft|rotary]] aircraft, in addition to operating and maintaining multiple [[airbase]]s. Moreover, Air Force personnel contributes to the [[Joint Ground-based Air Defence Command]] by operating various air-defence systems while other units are dedicated to [[force protection]]. The Air Force operates modern [[fighter aircraft]], such as the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16 Fighting Falcon]] and [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35 Lightning II]], tankers, transports, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and various types of training aircraft.

[[File:Koninklijke Marechaussee Schiphol met gepantserde Toyota Land Cruiser.jpg|thumb|left|Marechaussee providing security at [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol]] with armoured [[Toyota Land Cruiser]].]]

=== Royal Netherlands Marechaussee ===
{{Main|Royal Marechaussee}}

The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee ({{langx|nl|Koninklijke Marechaussee}}) is a [[gendarmerie]] force which performs both [[military police|military]] and civilian [[police]] duties. In addition to the military police duties, the Marechaussee has a wide variety of duties and responsibilities. This includes guarding the [[national border]]s and [[airport]]s, fighting [[illegal immigration]] and [[transnational crime]] and guarding the [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|royal palaces]].

The Marechaussee was established as one of the separate Armed Forces in 1998; before then the Marechaussee was organized as one of the arms within the Army.
While the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence, the branch often performs duties delegated by the [[Ministry of Justice and Security]] and the [[Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations]]. Moreover, several brigades of the Marechaussee are permanently stationed in the [[Dutch Caribbean]].