Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff
Encyclopedia
The Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff (CDS) is the Dutch Chief of Defence
and the highest-ranking officer
in the Dutch military.
The main role of the CDS is as an intermediary between the Minister of Defence
and the Armed Forces of The Netherlands. He makes operational policy and is responsible to the minister for military-strategic planning, operations and deployment of the Armed Forces.The CDS is the direct commanding officer of the commanders of the branches of the Dutch military:
The branch commanders are responsible for preparedness and actual deployment of their military personnel in The Netherlands and the rest of the world. Regarding operational planning and deployment, the branch commanders take their orders directly from the CDS.
There is a fourth branch of the military, the Royal Marechaussee (essentially the Military Police
). This branch does not answer to the CDS, since it is the police force for the entirety of the Dutch Armed Forces. This requires that the Marechaussee be independent, so this branch takes its orders directly from the state secretary
for the Ministry of Defence.
In addition to his command tasks, the CDS is the senior military advisor to the minister of Defence.
The current position of CDS (Commandant der Strijdkrachten) is new since 5 september 2005, when it replaced the existing role of Chef-Defensiestaf (which also translates to Chief of the Defence Staff and was also abbreviated as CDS). Just like its predecessor role the position of Commandant der Strijdkrachten will rotate between the branches of the military; the first CDS was general
Dick Berlijn
, formerly of the Royal Netherlands Air Force
. The position of CDS is typically held by a four-star officer (NATO OF-9, meaning a general
or a lieutenant admiral
), which means that promotion to the position of CDS usually includes a promotion in rank as well.
Chief of Defence
The Chief of Defence is the highest ranked commissioned officer of a nation's armed forces. The term CHOD is in common use within NATO and the European Union as a generic term for the highest national military position within the NATO and EU member states, rather than the actual term used for...
and the highest-ranking officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Dutch military.
The main role of the CDS is as an intermediary between the Minister of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)
The Netherlands Ministry of Defence governs the Netherlands Armed Forces. The Minister is assisted by a State Secretary...
and the Armed Forces of The Netherlands. He makes operational policy and is responsible to the minister for military-strategic planning, operations and deployment of the Armed Forces.The CDS is the direct commanding officer of the commanders of the branches of the Dutch military:
- the Commander of the Royal Netherlands NavyCommander of the Royal Netherlands NavyThe Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy is the highest-ranking officer of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The CZsk reports directly to the Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff....
; - the Commander of the Royal Netherlands ArmyCommander of the Royal Netherlands ArmyThe Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army is the executive commander of the Royal Netherlands Army and reports directly to the Commander of the Armed Forces . The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army is statutorily a three-star general...
; and - the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air ForceCommander of the Royal Netherlands Air ForceThe Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force is the highest-ranking officer of the Royal Netherlands Air Force...
.
The branch commanders are responsible for preparedness and actual deployment of their military personnel in The Netherlands and the rest of the world. Regarding operational planning and deployment, the branch commanders take their orders directly from the CDS.
There is a fourth branch of the military, the Royal Marechaussee (essentially the Military Police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
). This branch does not answer to the CDS, since it is the police force for the entirety of the Dutch Armed Forces. This requires that the Marechaussee be independent, so this branch takes its orders directly from the state secretary
State Secretary (Netherlands)
State Secretary is the title of a junior member of the Dutch or Belgian cabinet. Other terms for the title are deputy minister, junior minister or vice-minister...
for the Ministry of Defence.
In addition to his command tasks, the CDS is the senior military advisor to the minister of Defence.
The current position of CDS (Commandant der Strijdkrachten) is new since 5 september 2005, when it replaced the existing role of Chef-Defensiestaf (which also translates to Chief of the Defence Staff and was also abbreviated as CDS). Just like its predecessor role the position of Commandant der Strijdkrachten will rotate between the branches of the military; the first CDS was general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Dick Berlijn
Dick Berlijn
General Dick Lodewijk Berlijn is a retired Royal Netherlands Air Force four-star general, who served as Chief of Defence of the Netherlands from 2004, when he succeeded Lt. Adm. Luuk Kroon, until 2008, when he was succeeded by Gen. Peter van Uhm...
, formerly of the Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
The Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with four pilots...
. The position of CDS is typically held by a four-star officer (NATO OF-9, meaning a general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
or a lieutenant admiral
Lieutenant Admiral
Lieutenant admiral is a senior naval military rank in some countries of the world. The rank is considered by many nations to be a direct equivalent of a vice admiral....
), which means that promotion to the position of CDS usually includes a promotion in rank as well.
Chiefs of the Netherlands Defence Staff
- 1949 - 2005 : Chiefs Defence Staff
- 2005 - 2008 : Dick BerlijnDick BerlijnGeneral Dick Lodewijk Berlijn is a retired Royal Netherlands Air Force four-star general, who served as Chief of Defence of the Netherlands from 2004, when he succeeded Lt. Adm. Luuk Kroon, until 2008, when he was succeeded by Gen. Peter van Uhm...
- 2008 - present: Peter van UhmPeter van UhmGeneral Petrus J.M. "Peter" van Uhm is a four-star general in the Royal Netherlands Army and the current Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff...
- From mid 2012: Tom Middendorp