🇳🇱
Netherlands 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), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
60
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 |
Lieutenant general
|
Generaal-majoor
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Brigadegeneraal
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Kolonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Luitenant-kolonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Majoor
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Kapitein / Ritmeester
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Eerste luitenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Tweede luitenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Vaandrig / Kornet
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer candidate |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Adjudant-onderofficier
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Sergeant-majoor
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergeant first class
|
Sergeant der 1e klasse / Wachtmeester der 1e klasse
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Sergeant
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Korporaal der 1e klasse
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Specialist
Corporal
|
Korporaal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Private first class
|
Soldaat / Huzaar / Kanonier der 1e klasse
|
OR-2 Private |
Private
|
Soldaat / Huzaar / Kanonier der 2e klasse
|
OR-2 Private |
Private
|
Soldaat / Huzaar / Kanonier der 3e klasse
|
OR-1 Private | Private |
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 |
Vice admiral
|
Schout-bij-Nacht
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Commandeur
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Rear admiral (lower half)
|
Kapitein ter zee
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Kapitein-luitenant ter zee
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Luitenant ter zee der 1 ste klasse
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Luitenant ter zee der 2 de klasse oudste categorie
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Luitenant ter zee der 2 de klasse
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Luitenant ter zee der 3 de klasse
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Sergeant-Adelborst
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
Korporaal-Adelborst
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
Adelborst
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Adjudant onderofficer / Opperschipper
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Sergeant-majoor / Schipper
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Sergeant / Bootsman
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer first class
|
Korporaal / Kwartiermeester
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Petty officer third class
|
Matroos / Marinier der 1e klasse
|
OR-2 Private |
Seaman apprentice
|
Matroos / Marinier der 2e klasse
|
OR-2 Private |
Seaman apprentice
|
Matroos / Marinier der 3e klasse
|
OR-1 Private | Seaman recruit |
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 |
Lieutenant general
|
Generaal-majoor
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Kolonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Luitenant-kolonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Majoor
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Kapitein
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Eerste luitenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Tweede luitenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Vaandrig
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer trainee |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Adjudant-Onderofficier
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Sergeant-majoor
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Sergeant der 1e klasse
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Technical sergeant
|
Sergeant
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Korporaal der 1e klasse
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Senior airman
|
Korporaal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Airman first class
|
Soldaat der 1ste klasse
|
OR-2 Private |
Airman
|
Soldaat der 2de klasse
|
OR-2 Private |
Airman
|
Soldaat der 3de klasse
|
OR-1 Private | Airman basic |
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
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