Netherlands Army

The Royal Netherlands Army operates under the Land Forces Headquarters at Kromhoutkazerne in Utrecht. Operational combat forces are structured into three main maneuver brigades, all integrated into divisions of the German Army: the 11th Airmobile Brigade based at Schaarsbergen and Assen is integrated into the Rapid Forces Division; the 13th Light Brigade headquartered in Oirschot is integrated into the 10th Panzer Division; and the 43rd Mechanized Brigade based in Havelte is integrated into the 1st Panzer Division. Additional major formations include the Korps Commandotroepen special forces unit based in Roosendaal, the Joint Ground-based Air Defence Command at Vredepeel, the Operational Support Command Land, and the binational 1st German/Netherlands Corps headquartered in Münster, Germany.

Maneuver elements field CV9035NL infantry fighting vehicles, Boxer armored modular vehicles, Fennek reconnaissance vehicles, Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles, and Defenture Vector light tactical vehicles. Heavy armor capability is organized around Leopard 2 main battle tanks, supported by armored recovery and engineering variants. Indirect fire support is provided by Panzerhaubitze 2000 155 mm self-propelled howitzers, PULS rocket artillery platforms, and 120 mm heavy mortars. Ground-based air defense is operated through a joint command structure, incorporating MIM-104 Patriot long-range systems, NASAMS medium-range systems, and Fennek Stinger platforms. Operational rotary-wing support, including AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters, is provided by the tri-service Defence Helicopter Command administered by the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

The Royal Netherlands Army maintains deployments in support of NATO collective defense and international security agreements. Netherlands ground forces deploy company-sized mechanized and air assault elements to NATO Forward Land Forces battle groups in Lithuania and Slovakia. Air defense units maintain deployments of Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries to Eastern Europe, including operations in Poland to secure allied logistics nodes. Operational detachments also contribute personnel to EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, NATO Mission Iraq, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East, and United Nations Command in South Korea.

Modernization programs focus on restoring heavy armor, upgrading existing armored platforms, and expanding long-range strike capabilities. The army is re-establishing a national tank battalion equipped with Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks stationed at Lohheide, Germany. Light infantry units are receiving Boxer Schakal infantry fighting vehicles equipped with 30 mm automatic cannon turrets, while the CV9035NL fleet is undergoing a mid-life upgrade program incorporating active protection systems and modernized sensor suites. Field artillery units have introduced PULS rocket artillery to restore operational precision rocket fire. Under strategic guidance released in 2026, procurement priorities include counter-unmanned aerial systems and the tactical integration of autonomous ground and aerial systems.