Royal Netherlands Navy

Royal Netherlands Navy
Koninklijke Marine
Emblem of the Royal Netherlands Navy
Founded	8 January 1488; 537 years ago (1488-01-08)
Country	Netherlands
Type	Navy
Size	7,398 active military personnel (2023)[1] 1,359 reserves (2022)[2] 6 frigates 4 offshore patrol vessels 5 minehunters 1 joint support ship 2 landing platform docks 3 submarines 40 other ships 19 helicopters: NH90 NFH
Part of	Netherlands Armed Forces
Headquarters	Den Helder
Motto(s)	Veiligheid op en vanuit zee Security on and from the sea.
March	Defileermars der Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy Service Marchpast)
Engagements	Eighty Years' War Dutch–Portuguese War Anglo-Dutch Wars War of the Spanish Succession War of the Quadruple Alliance French Revolutionary Wars World War II Indonesian National Revolution Korean War Battle of Arafura Sea Operation Prosperity Guardian
Commanders
Commander	Vice-Admiral René Tas
Deputy commander	Rear admiral Huub Hulsker
Notable commanders	Michiel de Ruyter, Piet Hein, Maarten Tromp
Insignia
Flag
Naval ensign
Naval jack
Pennant
Logo
Aircraft flown
Patrol	NH90 NFH

The Royal Netherlands Navy (Dutch: Koninklijke Marine, pronounced [ˈkoːnɪŋkləkə maːˈrinə]) is the maritime service branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces.^[3][4] It traces its history to 8 January 1488,^[5] 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.