Military ranks of the Dutch armed forces

Koninklijke Landmacht, KL (Royal Netherlands Army, RNLA)

The Landmacht is the land based part of the Dutch military. Its task are the following:

• To defend Dutch territory and that of NATO allies.
• To contribute to peace, stability and safety worldwide.
• To support civil authorities in maintaining order, fighting natural disasters and providing humanitarian help, nationally as well as internationally.

Officers

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)
Army
Dutch title	Generaal	Luitenant-Generaal	Generaal-Majoor	Brigade-Generaal	Kolonel	Luitenant-Kolonel	Majoor	Kapitein	Eerste-Luitenant	Tweede-Luitenant	Vaandrig
(cavalry/artillery)								Ritmeester (Cavalry only)			Kornet
English equivalent	General	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Officer Cadet

Enlisted ranks

NATO Code	OR-8/9	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2		OR-1
Army
Dutch title	Adjudant	Sergeant-Majoor	Sergeant der 1e klasse	Sergeant	Korporaal der 1e klasse	Korporaal	Soldaat der 1ste klasse	Soldaat der 2de klasse	Soldaat der 3e klasse
(cavalry/artillery)		Opperwachtmeester	Wachtmeester der 1e klasse	Wachtmeester			Kannonier/huzaar	Kannonier/huzaar	Kannonier/huzaar
English equivalent	Warrant Officer	Sergeant Major	Sergeant First Class	Sergeant	Corporal First Class	Corporal	Lance Corporal	Private first class	Private

The rank insignia of the cavalry and military administration for the ranks from 'Korporaal' to 'Sergeant-Majoor' /' Opperwachtmeester' are not in gold, but in silver. The Dutch titles for privates are:

Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
Soldaat	Huzaar	Kannonier
Stoter
Grenadier		Rijder
Jager
Fusilier
Commando

Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu) (Royal Netherlands Air Force, RNLAF)

The Luchtmacht is the air based part of the Dutch military. Its tasks are the following:

• Delivering military force wherever the Dutch people desire.
• Dominating Dutch airspace.
• Creating safety for military actions by land, sea or air.
• To contribute to peace, stability and safety worldwide.
• To support civil authorities in maintaining order, fighting natural disasters and providing humanitarian help, nationally as well as internationally.

Officers

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)
Air force
Dutch title	Generaal	Luitenant-Generaal	Generaal-Majoor	Commodore	Kolonel	Luitenant-Kolonel	Majoor	Kapitein	Eerste-Luitenant	Tweede-Luitenant	Vaandrig
English equivalent	General (or Air Chief Marshal)	Lieutenant General (or Air Marshal)	Major General (or Air Vice-Marshal)	Air Commodore	Colonel (or Group Captain)	Lieutenant Colonel (or Wing Commander	Major (or Squadron Leader)	Captain (or Flight Lieutenant)	Lieutenant (or Flying Officer)	Second Lieutenant (or Pilot Officer)	Officer Cadet

Enlisted ranks

NATO Code	OR-8/9	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2		OR-1
Air force
Dutch title	Adjudant-Onderofficier	Sergeant-Majoor	Sergeant der 1e klasse	Sergeant	Korporaal der 1e klasse	Korporaal	Soldaat der 1ste klasse	Soldaat der 2de klasse	Soldaat der 3de klasse
English equivalent	Warrant Officer	Sergeant Major	Flight Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Lance Corporal	Senior Aircraftman	Leading Aircraftman	Aircraftman

Koninklijke Marine, KM (Royal Netherlands Navy, RNLN)

The Marine is the sea based part of the Dutch military. It includes both the navy and the marines. Its task are the following:

• Defending Dutch interests, including the Dutch Caribbean, and those of allies worldwide.
• To contribute to peace, stability and safety worldwide.
• To support civil authorities in maintaining order, fighting natural disasters and providing humanitarian help, nationally as well as internationally.

Officers

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Navy
Dutch title	Admiraal (due to tradition; actual rank abandoned in 1956)	Luitenant-Admiraal	Vice-Admiraal	Schout bij Nacht	Commandeur	Kapitein ter Zee	Kapitein-luitenant ter Zee	Luitenant ter Zee 1ste klasse	Luitenant ter Zee der 2e klasse oudste categorie	Luitenant ter Zee 2de klasse	Luitenant ter Zee 3de klasse
Netherlands Marines	not in use	Generaal	Luitenant-Generaal	Generaal-Majoor	Brigade-Generaal	Kolonel	Luitenant-Kolonel	Majoor	Kapitein	1e Luitenant	2e Luitenant
English equivalent	Admiral of the Fleet, Captain General of the RNLMC	Admiral, General	Vice Admiral, Lieutenant General	Rear Admiral, Major General	Commodore, Brigadier	Captain, Colonel	Commander, Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant Commander, Major	Lieutenant, Captain	Lieutenant (junior grade) / Sub-Lieutenant, Lieutenant	Ensign, Second Lieutenant

Enlisted ranks

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7/6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2/1
Navy
Dutch title	Adjudant Onderofficier	Sergeant-Majoor	Sergeant	Korporaal	Matroos der 1ste Klasse	Matroos der 2de Klasse	Matroos der 3de Klasse
Netherlands Marines	Adjudant Onderofficier	Sergeant-Majoor	Sergeant	Korporaal	Marinier der 1ste Klasse	Marinier der 2de Klasse	Marinier der 3de Klasse
English equivalent	Warrant Officer	Chief Petty Officer, Sergeant Major	Petty Officer 1st Class, Sergeant	Petty Officer 2nd Class, Corporal	Leading Seaman, Lance corporal	Seaman, Marine 1st Class	Seaman recruit, Marine

Koninklijke Marechaussee, KMar (Royal Gendarmerie)

The Royal Marechaussee, or Royal Netherlands Constabulary, is the gendarmerie and military police force of the Dutch Military. Its tasks are (among others):

• Support the local police
• Security of international airports and the Dutch borders
• Police duties for the Dutch armed forces
• Protection of Royal palaces and Government buildings.

Officers

NATO Code	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Military Police
Dutch title	Luitenant-Generaal	Generaal-Majoor	Brigade-Generaal	Kolonel	Luitenant-Kolonel	Majoor	Kapitein	Eerste-Luitenant	Tweede-Luitenant	Kornet
English equivalent	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Officer Cadet

Enlisted ranks

NATO Code	OR-8/9	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Military Police
Dutch title	Adjudant	Opperwachtmeester	Wachtmeester der 1e klasse	Wachtmeester	Marechaussee der 1e klasse	Marechaussee der 2e klasse	Marechaussee der 3e klasse	Marechaussee der 4e klasse
English equivalent	Warrant Officer Class I	Warrant Officer Class II	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Marechaussee 1st Class, Corporal	Marechaussee 2nd Class, Lance Corporal	Marechaussee 3rd Class, Private 1st Class	Marechaussee 4th Class, Private

External links

• Royal Netherlands Army (Official website) (English)
• Royal Netherlands Air Force (Official website)
• Royal Netherlands Navy (Official website)
• Royal Netherlands Military Police (Official website)
• Netherlands Ministry of Defence (Official website) (English)
• http://mpbundels.mindef.nl/20_serie/dp_20_10/images/rangen.pdf Ranks of the Netherlands Armed Forces (Official website)]