History Netherlands Marine Corps

the raid on chatham, first action of dutch marines in 1667

in 1667, led van ghent, admiral, , new commander, englishman colonel thomas dolman, regiment de marine played prominent part in large dutch raid, raid on medway on england (10–14 june). korps battle honour chatham 1 of few ever won on british soil foreign unit. july 2nd attack on landguard fort near harwich, performed 1.500 mariniers after landing @ woodrich beaten off fort s garrison.

the mariniers fought in franco-dutch war/third anglo-dutch war. on june 29, 1672, after serving in naval battle of solebay (7 june), two-thirds of marines withdrawn fleet , formed brigade in order stiffen inefficient , largely mercenary army in anticipation of english invasion. returned ships in time stop english invasion defeating combined english , french force @ naval battle of kijkduin (battle of texel) on 21 august 1673. led gerolf van isselmuyden, served in land battle of seneffe against french in 1674.

dutch support of american independence led fourth anglo-dutch war, mariniers served @ dogger bank.

in 1704, netherlands marines part of combined english-dutch force under prince george of hesse-darmstadt captured gibraltar , defended shortly afterwards. combine british again bombardment of algiers in 1816.

the korps mariniers served in of operations of netherlands in dutch east indies colony. netherlands took slow approach conquering entire colony , operations consolidating rule lasted 1850s until shortly before world war i. battle honors aceh war (1873–1913) , bali date time.

in world war ii, korps mariniers unit in rotterdam preparing ship out dutch east indies defended bridges across maas, preventing german paratroopers in center of city rendezvousing conventional german infantry. germans ended stalemate bombing rotterdam. threat of attack marines caused german captain scuttle antilla in aruba in 1940.

when surrender declared , dutch soldiers came out of positions, german commander expecting full battalion of men stunned see few dutch marines emerge in black uniforms. ordered men salute them out of respect bravery , determination , labeled them zwarte duivels (the black devils).

marine corps monument in rotterdam

some mariniers later joined princess irene brigade fight against germans. distinguished in combat near dutch city of tilburg in autumn of 1944.

starting in 1943, united states marine corps trained , equipped new brigade, mariniersbrigade, of korps mariniers @ camp lejeune , camp davis in north carolina in preparation amphibious landings against japanese in dutch east indies. japanese surrendered before such landings needed, mariniersbrigade, trained , equipped, left north carolina in 6 transports in 1945 , fought against indonesians in national revolution independence. part of division, commanded korps mariniers officer. disbanded in 1949.

the dutch kept western new guinea after indonesian national revolution , korps mariniers served there until 1962 when granted independence. same year invaded , incorporated indonesia.

modern korps mariniers

on 11 june 1977, unit interventie mariniers (marine intervention unit, uim) of dutch marine corps stormed train being held hostage since 23 may armed south moluccan nationalists in village of de punt, in province of drenthe. 6 royal netherlands air force f-104 starfighters buzzed train diversion before assault. 6 terrorists , 2 hostages killed in storming. bbe has become dutch government s primary counter-terrorism force.

lately marines have been deployed in various operations on world.

18 february 1992 – 18 november 1993: united nations transitional authority in cambodia (untac).

three battalion of marines , navy field hospital (fds) stationed in cambodia following 1991 paris peace treaty when civil war ended.

1995–present: former yugoslavia, bosnia, kosovo.

28 july 2000 – 7 february 2003: united nations mission in ethiopia , eritrea (unmee).

marines in hague wearing ceremonial uniforms

11 january 2002 – july 2010: deployment in afghanistan.

marines deployed in afghanistan part of international security assistance force (isaf) on several occasions. second battalion field hospital deployed in mazar-e sharif in 2005 provide security during elections. marines , navy personnel stationed in provincial reconstruction team in pol-e-khomri, province of baghlan. took on dutch airforce , army in 2005 , relieved in october 2006 when hungarian forces took over. formerly marines have served in uruzgan nld operational mentor , liaisons team, recruiting , training new military personnel of afghan national army in uruzgan province. training took place @ kamp holland, tarin kowt. reinforced company deployed in deh rashan area of uruzgan province. 2 marines killed on april 17, 2010, bvs 10 viking hit ied.

1 august 2003 – 2004: deployment in iraq.

two battalions of marines sent iraq after second gulf war part of stabilisation force iraq (sfir). stationed in province of al-muthanna fell under british command. main base located @ camp smitty in samawah. 1 company of marines located @ village of ar rumaythah , 1 @ village of al khidr.

18 november 2003 – 19 february 2004: united nations mission in liberia (unmil).

one platoon of dutch marines deployed on board hnlms rotterdam, landing platform dock (lpd) of royal netherlands navy provide logistical support unmil landforces.

2005–2006: united nations organization mission in democratic republic of congo (monuc)

major general of marines patrick cammaert appointed division commander un secretary general kofi annan.

the corps celebrates birthday each year @ oostplein (lit., east square) in rotterdam, fallen (ex) corpsmembers remembered.

on 29 may 2009, marco kroon, member of korps commandotroepen , former member of netherlands marine corps, awarded military william order, highest military decoration in netherlands.