Netherlands Marine Corps

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Netherlands Marine Corps
Korps Mariniers (Dutch)
Badge
Founded	10 December 1665 (1665-12-10)
Country	Netherlands
Allegiance	King of the Netherlands
Branch	Royal Netherlands Navy
Type	Marines
Role	Expeditionary warfare Amphibious warfare Arctic warfare Special operations
Size	c. 2,500
Garrison/HQ	Marine Combat Groups – Doorn NLMARSOF – Doorn & Den Helder 32nd Raiding Squadron – Aruba Surface Assault and Training Group (SATG) – Texel
Nickname(s)	"The Black Devils"
Motto(s)	Qua Patet Orbis (Latin) "As Far as the World Extends"
Colours	Navy Blue, Red
March	Defileermars der Koninklijke Marine
Engagements	List of engagements Second Anglo-Dutch War Third Anglo-Dutch War War of the Spanish Succession Battle of Texel Battle of Seneffe Battle of Dogger Bank Bombardment of Algiers Rotterdam Blitz Battle of the Java Sea Battle of Java Indonesian War of Independence Korean War Bosnian War Iraq War War in Afghanistan Operation Atalanta Mali War Military intervention against ISIL
Decorations	Military William Order
Commanders
Commandant	BG Ivo Moerman [nl], KM
Notable commanders	Willem Joseph van Ghent
Insignia
Collar emblem

The Netherlands Marine Corps (Dutch: Korps Mariniers) is the elite naval infantry corps of the Royal Netherlands Navy,^[1] one of the four Armed Forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.^[2] The marines trace their origins to the establishment of the Regiment de Marine on 10 December 1665,^[1][3] by the then grand pensionary of the Dutch Republic, Johan de Witt and famous Admiral Michiel de Ruyter.^[1] It is the second-oldest still-active marine corps in the world.^[4]

The present-day Corps is a rapid reaction force that can be deployed to any location in the world within a maximum of 48 hours. The marines are capable of operating in all environments and climates, specialising in expeditionary warfare, amphibious warfare, arctic warfare and mountain warfare.^[1][5] The core fighting element of the corps consists of two battalion-sized Marine Combat Groups (MCGs) which are supplemented by various combat support and combat service support squadrons. In addition, the Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces (NLMARSOF) are capable of conducting the full spectrum of special operations.

Throughout its history, the Marines have seen action in a number of major conflicts including the Anglo-Dutch Wars, the War of the Spanish Succession and World War II. In recent history the Marines have regularly been deployed in stabilisation roles such as the Bosnian War, the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan and the Mali War. Additionally, the Corps conducts counterpiracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and provides Vessel Protection Detachments (VPDs) to Dutch merchant ships. The Netherlands Marine Corps uphold close international relations with the Royal Marines, the United States Marine Corps, the Sea Battalion (German: Seebataillon) and the Special Operations Regiment.