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Navy comparison: Flag of France France vs Flag of Netherlands Netherlands

France's 175-ship navy outnumbers Netherlands's 38 vessels (4.6:1 advantage). Of these, 166 and 37 are in active service respectively.

SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Naval ensign of France FranceWorld #8 39.8
SEAS Index / 100

France leads on 8 of 8 categories

Naval ensign of Netherlands NetherlandsWorld #28 16.2
  • 1 Aircraft carriersweight ×200 · size, era 0
  • 10 Destroyersweight ×50 · size, era 0
  • 9 Submarinesweight ×45 · size, era 3
  • 12 Frigatesweight ×30 · size, era 5
  • 3 Amphibiousweight ×12 · size, era 2
  • 19 Mine warfareweight ×5 · size, era 5
  • 24 Patrol boatsweight ×2 · size, era 7
  • 2 Unmannedweight ×2 · size, era 0
  • 86 Support shipsnot scored 9
  • 0 Other shipsnot scored 6
France Netherlands Bars: weighted contribution to the SEAS Index (hulls × category weight × size, era and propulsion factors, minor vessels capped at 30 % of the combatant points; the air-wing, sustainment, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active hulls at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
France Netherlands Ratio
Official name French Navy Royal Netherlands Navy
Total ships 175 38 🇫🇷 4.6×
Active ships 166 37 🇫🇷 4.5×
On order / planned 5 0 🇫🇷
Submarines 9 3 🇫🇷 3.0×
Principal surface combatants 22 5 🇫🇷 4.4×
Aircraft carriers 1 0 🇫🇷
Amphibious ships 3 2 🇫🇷 1.5×
Show full breakdown · 3 more rowsHide the 3 extra rows
Patrol boats 24 7 🇫🇷 3.4×
Mine warfare 19 5 🇫🇷 3.8×
Auxiliaries 86 15 🇫🇷 5.7×
Backbone classes one per tier held
🇫🇷 FranceCharles de Gaulle-class ×1Barracuda-class ×4FREMM frigate-class ×8
🇳🇱 NetherlandsWalrus-class ×3De Zeven Provinciën-class ×4Rotterdam-class ×2
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more naval ships, France or Netherlands?
France has a larger navy with 175 ships compared to Netherlands's 38 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, France or Netherlands?
France operates more submarines with 11 compared to Netherlands's 3.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, France or Netherlands?
France has 1 aircraft carrier(s) compared to Netherlands's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, France or Netherlands?
France operates 10 destroyers compared to Netherlands's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, France or Netherlands?
France operates 16 frigates compared to Netherlands's 6.
How do the France and Netherlands navies compare in size?
France's navy is 4.6 times larger than Netherlands's in terms of total ships (175 vs 38).