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Ranks· 🇳🇱 Netherlands

Netherlands vs Germany Military Ranks

The Netherlands Army has 20 ranks — 11 officer and 9 enlisted — from Soldaat / Huzaar / Kanonier der 3e klasse up to Generaal. Below: all 60 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their German equivalents.

Branches

Ranks documented

Active personnel

35K

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 20 of 20 matched

🇳🇱 Netherlands · Army	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
Generaal	OF-9 General	General
Luitenant-generaal	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Generalleutnant
Generaal-majoor	OF-7 Major General	Generalmajor
Brigadegeneraal	OF-6 Brigadier General	Brigadegeneral
Kolonel	OF-5 Colonel	Oberst
Luitenant-kolonel	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Oberstleutnant
Majoor	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Major
Kapitein / Ritmeester	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Stabshauptmann Hauptmann
Eerste luitenant	OF-1 Lieutenant	Oberleutnant Leutnant
Tweede luitenant	OF-1 Lieutenant	Oberleutnant Leutnant
Vaandrig / Kornet	OF-D Student Officer	Oberfähnrich Fähnrich Fahnenjunker
Enlisted ranks
Adjudant-onderofficier	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Oberstabsfeldwebel
Sergeant-majoor	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	Hauptfeldwebel
Sergeant der 1e klasse / Wachtmeester der 1e klasse	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	Oberfeldwebel Feldwebel
Sergeant	OR-5 Sergeant	Stabsunteroffizier Unteroffizier
Korporaal der 1e klasse	OR-4 Corporal	Stabskorporal Korporal Oberstabsgefreiter Stabsgefreiter
Korporaal	OR-3 Private 1st Class	Hauptgefreiter Obergefreiter
Soldaat / Huzaar / Kanonier der 1e klasse	OR-2 Private	Gefreiter
Soldaat / Huzaar / Kanonier der 2e klasse	OR-2 Private	Gefreiter
Soldaat / Huzaar / Kanonier der 3e klasse	OR-1 Private	Soldat

Navy

Rank Ladder Highest first · 20 of 20 matched

🇳🇱 Netherlands · Navy	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
Luitenant-Admiraal	OF-9 General	Admiral
Vice-Admiraal	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Vizeadmiral
Schout-bij-Nacht	OF-7 Major General	Konteradmiral
Commandeur	OF-6 Brigadier General	Flottillenadmiral
Kapitein ter zee	OF-5 Colonel	Kapitän zur See
Kapitein-luitenant ter zee	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Fregattenkapitän
Luitenant ter zee der 1 ste klasse	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Korvettenkapitän
Luitenant ter zee der 2 de klasse oudste categorie	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Stabskapitänleutnant Kapitänleutnant
Luitenant ter zee der 2 de klasse	OF-1 Lieutenant	Oberleutnant zur See Leutnant zur See
Luitenant ter zee der 3 de klasse	OF-1 Lieutenant	Oberleutnant zur See Leutnant zur See
Sergeant-Adelborst	OF-D Student Officer	Oberfähnrich zur See Fähnrich zur See Seekadett
Korporaal-Adelborst	OF-D Student Officer	Oberfähnrich zur See Fähnrich zur See Seekadett
Adelborst	OF-D Student Officer	Oberfähnrich zur See Fähnrich zur See Seekadett
Enlisted ranks
Adjudant onderofficer / Opperschipper	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Oberstabsbootsmann
Sergeant-majoor / Schipper	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	Hauptbootsmann
Sergeant / Bootsman	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	Oberbootsmann Bootsmann
Korporaal / Kwartiermeester	OR-4 Corporal	Stabskorporal Korporal Oberstabsgefreiter Stabsgefreiter
Matroos / Marinier der 1e klasse	OR-2 Private	Gefreiter
Matroos / Marinier der 2e klasse	OR-2 Private	Gefreiter
Matroos / Marinier der 3e klasse	OR-1 Private	Matrose

Air Force

Rank Ladder Highest first · 20 of 20 matched

🇳🇱 Netherlands · Air Force	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
Generaal	OF-9 General	General
Luitenant-generaal	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Generalleutnant
Generaal-majoor	OF-7 Major General	Generalmajor
Commodore	OF-6 Brigadier General	Brigadegeneral
Kolonel	OF-5 Colonel	Oberst
Luitenant-kolonel	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Oberstleutnant
Majoor	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Major
Kapitein	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Stabshauptmann Hauptmann
Eerste luitenant	OF-1 Lieutenant	Oberleutnant Leutnant
Tweede luitenant	OF-1 Lieutenant	Oberleutnant Leutnant
Vaandrig	OF-D Student Officer	Oberfähnrich Fähnrich Fahnenjunker
Enlisted ranks
Adjudant-Onderofficier	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Oberstabsfeldwebel
Sergeant-majoor	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	Hauptfeldwebel
Sergeant der 1e klasse	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	Oberfeldwebel Feldwebel
Sergeant	OR-5 Sergeant	Stabsunteroffizier Unteroffizier
Korporaal der 1e klasse	OR-4 Corporal	Stabskorporal Korporal Oberstabsgefreiter Stabsgefreiter
Korporaal	OR-3 Private 1st Class	Hauptgefreiter Obergefreiter
Soldaat der 1ste klasse	OR-2 Private	Gefreiter
Soldaat der 2de klasse	OR-2 Private	Gefreiter
Soldaat der 3de klasse	OR-1 Private	Flieger

Overview

The armed forces of the Netherlands, known as the "Netherlands Armed Forces" or "Krijgsmacht van Nederland," consist of several branches, each with specific responsibilities:

Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht): The Royal Netherlands Army is responsible for land-based military operations, including infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. It plays a crucial role in national defense and international peacekeeping missions.
Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine): The Royal Netherlands Navy focuses on maritime defense and security, operating various vessels, including frigates, submarines, and patrol ships, to protect the Netherlands' extensive coastline and maritime interests.
Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht): The Royal Netherlands Air Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations, with fighter aircraft, transport planes, helicopters, and air defense systems ensuring air superiority and national defense.

Netherlands Military

🇳🇱 vs 🇧🇪 Belgium ranks 🇳🇱 vs 🇩🇰 Denmark ranks 🇳🇱 vs 🇫🇷 France ranks All Germany ranks All rank structures Netherlands Military Overview

Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.

Insignia image credits

Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Generaal (Army), Luitenant-generaal (Army), Generaal-majoor (Army), Brigadegeneraal, Kolonel (Army), Luitenant-kolonel (Army), Majoor (Army), Kapitein / Ritmeester, Eerste luitenant (Army), Tweede luitenant (Army), Vaandrig / Kornet, Sergeant-majoor (Army), Sergeant der 1e klasse / Wachtmeester der 1e klasse, Sergeant (Army), Korporaal der 1e klasse (Army), Korporaal (Army), Soldaat / Huzaar / Kanonier der 1e klasse, Soldaat / Huzaar / Kanonier der 2e klasse, Soldaat / Huzaar / Kanonier der 3e klasse, Luitenant-Admiraal, Vice-Admiraal, Schout-bij-Nacht, Commandeur, Kapitein ter zee, Kapitein-luitenant ter zee, Luitenant ter zee der 1 ste klasse, Luitenant ter zee der 2 de klasse oudste categorie, Luitenant ter zee der 2 de klasse, Luitenant ter zee der 3 de klasse, Sergeant-Adelborst, Korporaal-Adelborst, Adelborst, Adjudant onderofficer / Opperschipper, Sergeant-majoor / Schipper, Matroos / Marinier der 1e klasse, Matroos / Marinier der 2e klasse, Generaal (Air Force), Luitenant-generaal (Air Force), Generaal-majoor (Air Force), Commodore, Kolonel (Air Force), Luitenant-kolonel (Air Force), Majoor (Air Force), Kapitein, Eerste luitenant (Air Force), Tweede luitenant (Air Force), Vaandrig, Adjudant-Onderofficier, Sergeant-majoor (Air Force), Sergeant der 1e klasse, Sergeant (Air Force), Korporaal der 1e klasse (Air Force), Korporaal (Air Force), Soldaat der 1ste klasse, Soldaat der 2de klasse, Soldaat der 3de klasse