The Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) is the navy of the Netherlands. During the 17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In recent times the Royal Netherlands Navy takes part in expeditionary peacekeeping and peace enforcing operations.
Bases[]
The main naval base of the Royal Netherlands Navy is located in Den Helder, as is the Royal Netherlands Naval College. Secondary naval bases are located in Amsterdam, Vlissingen, Texel, and Willemstad. Netherlands Marine Corps barracks are located in Rotterdam, Doorn, Suffisant, and Savaneta.
History[]
Dutch Golden Age[]
The Dutch navy has a long history. It was involved in many wars against other European powers since 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 in four Anglo-Dutch wars against the United Kingdom. During the 17th century the Dutch navy was the most powerful navy in the world. Throughout this period there were, in fact, not one single navy but instead five separate Admiralties (three of them in Holland, and one each in Friesland and Zeeland), each with its own ships, personnel and command structure.
World War II[]
During the Second World War, the Dutch navy was based in the Dutch East Indies and in other Allied countries after the Netherlands was conquered by Nazi Germany.
Dutch Navy commanders played a large role in the Pacific War. Admiral Karel Doorman was the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Line of Battle. A small force of submarines based in Western Australia sank more Japanese ships in the first weeks of the war than the entire British and American Navies together, an exploit which earned Admiral Helfrich the nickname "Ship-a-day Helfrich". Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was killed when the Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano, the largest carrier ever built at the time, was sunk by a Dutch Navy submarine, the HNLMS O-19.
Fleet[]
The Royal Netherlands Navy operates ten classes of warships along with several auxiliary vessels:
- 1 x Juan Carlos I-class assault ship
- 2 x Kijkduin-class amphibious transport docks
- 2 x Rotterdam-class (Type 46) cruisers
- 12 x De Zeven Provinciën-class destroyers
- 11 x Kortenaer-class frigates
- 4 X Jacob van Heemskerck-class frigates
- 7 x Adelaer-class frigates
- 8 x Walrus-class submarines
- 4 x Zuiderkruis-class replenishment vessels
- 3 x Amsterdam-class replenishment vessels
- 4 x Cerberus-class diving support vessels
- 2 x Snellius-class hydrographic survey vessels
- 1 x Pelikaan-class logistics support vessel
- 15 x Alkmaar-class minesweepers
- 4 x Holland-class offshore patrol vessels
Warships[]
- Kijkduin-class amphibious transport docks (2)
- HNLMS Kijkduin (AA 802)
- HNLMS Eendracht (AA 803)
- Rotterdam-class cruisers (2)
- HNLMS Rotterdam (CM 805)
- HNLMS Johan de Witt (CM 806)
- De Zeven Provinciën-class destroyers (12)
- HNLMS De Zeven Provincien (DM 820)
- HNLMS De Betuwe (DM 821)
- HNLMS Rivierotter (DM 822)
- HNLMS De Eems (DM 823)
- HNLMS De IJssel (DM 824)
- HNLMS Gouda (DM 825)
- HNLMS Vlaardingen (DM 826)
- HNLMS Zeegras (DM 827)
- HNLMS Salamander (DM 828)
- HNLMS Fonteinkruid (DM 829)
- HNLMS Moeras (DM 830)
- HNLMS De Veluwe (DM 831)
- Kortenaer-class frigates (10)
- HNLMS Kortenaer (F807)
- HNLMS Callenburgh (F808)
- HNLMS Van Kinsbergen (F809)
- HNLMS Banckert (F810)
- HNLMS Piet Hein (F811)
- HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen (F812)
- HNLMS Philips van Almonde (F813)
- HNLMS Bloys van Treslong (F814)
- HNLMS Pieter Florisz (F815)
- HNLMS Willem van der Zaan (F816)
- Jacob van Heemskerck-class frigates (4)
- HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck (FM 817)
- HNLMS Witte de With (FM 818)
- HNLMS Laurens Reael (FM 819)
- HNLMS Hendrik Gravé (FM 820)
- Adelaer-class frigates (8)
- HNLMS Adelaer (FM 821)
- HNLMS Van Speijk (FM 822)
- HNLMS Aegidius van Braam (FM 823)
- HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes (FM 824)
- HNLMS Van Amstel (FM 825)
- HNLMS Abraham van der Hulst (FM 826)
- HNLMS Van Nes (FM 827)
- HNLMS Van Galen (FM 828)
- Walrus-class submarines (8)
- HNLMS Walrus (S 802)
- HNLMS Bruinvis (S 803)
- HNLMS Zeeleeuw (S 804)
- HNLMS Narwal (S 805)
- HNLMS Dolfijn (S 806)
- HNLMS Walvis (S 807)
- HNLMS Zeekoe (S 808)
- HNLMS Zeebeer (S 809)
- Zuiderkruiz-class replenishment vessels
- HNLMS Zuiderkruis (RO 832)
- HNLMS Beeldhouwer (RO 833)
- HNLMS Waterman (RO 834)
- HNLMS Pegasus (RO 835)
- Amsterdam-class replenishment vessels
- HNLMS Amsterdam (RO 836)
- HNLMS Tilburg (RO 837)
- HNLMS Eindhoven (RO 838)
- Cerberus-class diving support vessels
- HNLMS Cerberus (A850)
- HNLMS Argus (A851)
- HNLMS Nautilus (A852)
- HNLMS Hydra (A853)
- Snellius-class hydrographic survey vessels
- HNLMS Snellius (A802)
- HNLMS Luymes (A803)
- Pelikaan class logistics support vessel
- HNLMS Pelikaan (A804)
- Alkmaar-class minesweepers
- HNLMS Alkmaar (MM 850)
- HNLMS Delfzijl (MM 851)
- HNLMS Sordrecht (MM 852)
- HNLMS Haarlem (MM 853)
- HNLMS Harlingen (MM 854)
- HNLMS Scheveningen (MM 855)
- HNLMS Maaluis (MM 856)
- HNLMS Makkum (MM 857)
- HNLMS Middelburg (MM 858)
- HNLMS Hellevoetsluis (MM 859)
- HNLMS Schiedam (MM 860)
- HNLMS Urk (MM 861)
- HNLMS Zierikze (MM 862)
- HNLMS Vlaardingen (MM 863)
- HNLMS Willemstad (MM 864)
- Holland-class patrol vessels
- HNLMS Holland (PG 840)
- HNLMS Zeeland (PG 841)
- HNLMS Friesland (PG 842)
- HNLMS Groningen (PG 843)