Korps Commandotroepen
The Korps Commandotroepen is the elite special forces unit of the Royal Netherlands Army. The KCT traces its origins to the Second World War with the founding of No. 2 Troop, and the founding of the Korps Speciale Troepen during the Indonesian War of Independence.
The corps currently consists of four active commando companies, a SOF Support company and a training company. The KCT is based at the Engelbrecht van Nassaukazerne in the city of Roosendaal. KCT missions are planned and coordinated by the Netherlands Special Operations Command, as are the operations of its maritime counterpart NLMARSOF.
Due to the sensitivity of the unit's operations, which includes covert operations, much of the information about the KCT is classified. However, some deployments have been acknowledged and publicised by the Ministry of Defence. Since the end of the Cold War, the unit has seen extensive combat in conflict zones around the world. This includes deployments to the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and Mali. Moreover, the unit has conducted numerous non-combatant evacuation operations in recent years.
History
World War II
The roots of the KCT go back to World War II. The unit was formed under the name No. 2 Troop, which was part of No. 10 Commando, on 22 March 1942. This date has lived on as the annual birthday of the present-day KCT. No. 2 Troop was tasked with conducting special operations, which, at the time, were operations that were considered too complex and too dangerous for conventional military units. In March 1942, the first 48 Dutch commandos were voluntarily selected from the Princess Irene Brigade and commenced training in four different British training centres, later rejoining in Achnacarry, Scotland. Of the 48 men, 25 managed to finish the intense commando course and were awarded the coveted green beret. From 1942 to 1943, the unit grew in size and achieved combat readiness.While the unit was initially supposed to deploy in Malaysia and Sumatra in 1944, this deployment was later called off. However, five Dutch commandos were sent to Burma to fight against the Japanese forces in the Arakan Campaign in 1943. The troop returned to Europe in July 1944; in the ensuing months, multiple commandos were dropped in the German-occupied Netherlands to establish contact with the Dutch resistance forces. In September 1944, Dutch commandos joined the Allied paratrooper force to fight in the failed airborne Operation Market Garden. In addition, the troop fought to free the Dutch island of Walcheren as part of the allied Operation Infatuate in November 1944.
The unit was disbanded shortly after the liberation of the Netherlands, in October 1945. However, its personnel continued fighting in the Dutch East Indies, while others formed the Stormschool training command, located in Bloemendaal. In 1949, the Stormschool was relocated to the Engelbrecht van Nassaukazerne in Roosendaal, which remains the garrison of the present-day KCT.
File:Parachutisten, Bestanddeelnr 204-6-3.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Paratroopers of the Korps Speciale Troepen headed by Captain Raymond Westerling during a parade in Batavia, 1947.
Dutch East Indies
A contingent of approximately 150 troops of the Princess Irene Brigade was sent to the Dutch East Indies in January 1942, in order to strengthen the Dutch defences on the island. Their journey was aborted following the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, causing the troops to become stuck on the island state of British Ceylon. While the majority of the troops were recalled to Europe, a group of volunteers were selected to attend a special training course for jungle operations. This commando unit, named Korps Insulinde, was tasked with conducting guerrilla warfare, sabotage and intelligence operations on Sumatra, against the Japanese occupiers. Following the Japanese capitulation, Korps Insulinde was tasked with the search and rescue of POWs. In November 1945, the unit was disbanded - many of its members remained in military service and joined sister commando units.During the Indonesian war of independence, which lasted from 1945 to 1949, the special operations unit Depot Speciale Troepen was established. The unit was part of the Royal Netherlands Indies Army and saw intense combat throughout the conflict. DST was tasked with conducting counterinsurgency operations and the elimination of Indonesian nationalists, and was commanded by Captain Raymond Westerling. The unit conducted numerous successful contraguerrilla operations, while simultaneously gaining notoriety for its harsh treatment of insurgents during the South Sulawesi campaign. This successful military campaign involved the alleged execution of thousands of Indonesian insurgents. In 1948, the unit, then renamed to Korps Speciale Troepen, participated in Operation Kraai. During this operation, Dutch forces successfully captured Yogyakarta, the temporary capital of the Indonesian Republic. In addition, numerous high-ranking Indonesian leaders, including the Republican President Sukarno, were arrested.
Following the acknowledgement of Indonesian independence by the Dutch government in 1949, the KST returned to the Netherlands. On 1 July 1950, via parliamentary recommendation, the KST merged with the training command Stormschool in Roosendaal to form the present Korps Commandotroepen.
The modern KCT
During the 1950s, the KCT transitioned to an organisation with three active companies made up of conscripts. In the context of heightened tensions between NATO and the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War, the commandos were trained to carry out reconnaissance behind enemy lines, sabotage and intelligence operations.In the 1960s, Korps Commandotroepen was greatly reduced in size to one active observation and reconnaissance company: 104 Waarnemings- en Verkenningscompagnie. This company was placed under the most senior field commander of the army, the commander of I Army Corps. In addition, commandos were selected to become part of the Dutch stay-behind network which was tasked with setting up an underground resistance organisation in the case of a Russian invasion.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 became a turning point for the Dutch armed forces in its entirety, and the KCT in particular. With the threat of Cold War receding, operational demands deviated significantly from the old set of tasks. Since the 9/11 Attacks, terrorism became the biggest threat, resulting in a high demand for specialist counter-terrorism units, capable of operating expeditionary. To keep up with these demands, the KCT's old role of Commando Waarnemer-verkenner was replaced by that of a role better suited for contemporary and versatile operations; Commando Speciale Operaties. In addition, KCT switched from a "part conscript, part professional force" to a fully professional unit in 1995. The last conscripts made way for professional operators in 1996, when Dutch conscription was suspended. Since then, the KCT structure and operational capability have undergone a complete transformation, with great success. The unit grew from one active company to four, and matured into a professional and versatile SOF unit with a considerable reputation.
Structure
As of March 2025 the Korps Commandotroepen consists of the following units:- Korps Commandotroepen, in Roosendaal
- * Staff and Support Company
- * Special Operations Instruction and Training Company
- * 102nd Company
- * 103rd Commando Troops Company
- * 104th Commando Troops Company
- * 105th Commando Troops Company
- * 108th Commando Troops Company
Since 5 December 2018, KCT operations have been coordinated by the then-established command element Netherlands Special Operations Command. The KCT remains part of the Royal Netherlands Army.
Due to the high operational tempo, the Ministry of Defence decided to allocate additional funding to the operational and logistic support of the corps. Consequently, the Staff company was transformed into the SOF Support Company and simultaneously expanded with new 'dedicated' SOF-enablers; specialist personnel trained to support commandos during special operations. In addition, the Corps Staff and Education and Training Company were provided with additional personnel.
On 1 June 2021, the SOF Support Company was formally established. The logistic, medical and signals platoons were reinforced with new personnel and equipment. Moreover, the Corps was expanded with a Special Operations Intelligence Cell to gather tactical intelligence, a specialist SOF EOD and engineer capacity to identify and neutralise explosive devices and a Special Operations Surgical Team to provide extensive medical support in the battlefield. A Combat Control Team provides support during helicopter operations and the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles. Lastly, the military working dog teams have also been centralised in the SOF Support Company.