Royal Netherlands Navy


The Royal Netherlands 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. 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, and his son Philip the Fair, the ruler of Burgundian lands 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, each with its own ships, personnel, shipyards, command structures and revenues.

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 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 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 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.

Dutch New Guinea

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. After four years of conflict, the Netherlands ceded sovereignty to Indonesia in 1949.
Elements of the Dutch navy were then stationed in Dutch New Guinea until 1962, when the territory was turned over to a United Nations mission before its integration into Indonesia on 1 May 1963. This had been preceded by a combined Soviet–Indonesian military operation that was successfully repulsed by the Dutch navy.

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 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, 12 destroyers, eight submarines, six frigates, 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

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.
AircraftOriginTypeCoastguard baseIn serviceNotes
Bombardier Dash 8 MPACanadaPatrol / SARSchiphol - The Netherlands2
Bombardier Dash 8 MPACanadaPatrol / SARHATO - Curaçao Dutch Caribbean2
AgustaWestland AW169ItalySAR / TransportHATO - Curaçao Dutch Caribbean2
AgustaWestland AW189ItalySARDen Helder & Midden Zeeland - The Netherlands3Operated by Bristow Group.

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, 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 shipDefence White Paper 1974Defence White Paper 1984Priority Document 1993Navy study 2005Economize 2011Defence White Paper 2018
LC frigates444
M frigates488222
GW frigates222
L frigates122
S frigates12106
MLM frigates6
Frigates252218666
Patrol ships444
Submarine664444
Supply ships22211
LPD1222
JSS111
Minehunters1515151066
Minesweepers1111
Total ships595640282324
LRMP aircraft211313
Helicopters363020202020
Total aircraft574333202020

The Royal Netherlands Navy classifies the De Zeven Provinciën-class as frigates, but internationally they are most comparable to destroyers platform for Sea Based Anti-Ballistic Missile defence