Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army
Encyclopedia
The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army (C-LAS) (dutch: Commandant Landstrijdkrachten) is the executive commander of the Royal Netherlands Army
and reports directly to the Commander of the Armed Forces (CDS)
. The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army is statutorily a three-star general. The current C-LAS is Lieutenant General
Mart de Kruif
.
in which the staffs (military and civilian) where reduced in size and an entire organizational layer was dropped. Before September 2005 the commanding officer of the Army was the Bevelhebber der Landstrijdkrachten (abbreviated BLS; the term also translates into English as Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army).
Royal Netherlands Army
The Royal Netherlands Army is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands.-Short history:The Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, but its origins date back to 1572, when the so-called Staatse Leger was raised...
and reports directly to the Commander of the Armed Forces (CDS)
Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff
The Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff 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...
. The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army is statutorily a three-star general. The current C-LAS is Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Mart de Kruif
Mart de Kruif
Mart de Kruif is a Dutch Army general. He currently serves as the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army.De Kruif got his military education at the Military Academy in Breda. Later he was also educated at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr and the U.S. Army War College...
.
History of the C-LAS
The position of C-LAS was created on 5 September 2005 as part of a thorough reorganization within the Dutch Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (Netherlands)
The Netherlands Ministry of Defence governs the Netherlands Armed Forces. The Minister is assisted by a State Secretary...
in which the staffs (military and civilian) where reduced in size and an entire organizational layer was dropped. Before September 2005 the commanding officer of the Army was the Bevelhebber der Landstrijdkrachten (abbreviated BLS; the term also translates into English as Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army).
Commanders of the Royal Netherlands Army
- 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...
(5 September 2005 - 13 March 2008) - Rob BertholeeRob BertholeeLieutenant General Rob A.C. Bertholee is an officer of the Royal Netherlands Army. He is currently the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army. He has a wife and one daughter.-Military career:...
(13 maart 2008 - 25 October 2011) - Mart de KruifMart de KruifMart de Kruif is a Dutch Army general. He currently serves as the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army.De Kruif got his military education at the Military Academy in Breda. Later he was also educated at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr and the U.S. Army War College...
(25 October 2011 - present)
Deputy Commanders of the Royal Netherlands Army
- Lex Oostendorp (5 September 2005 - 25 November 2007)
- Marcel van den Broek (26 November 2007 - March 2010)
- Mart de KruifMart de KruifMart de Kruif is a Dutch Army general. He currently serves as the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army.De Kruif got his military education at the Military Academy in Breda. Later he was also educated at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr and the U.S. Army War College...
(March 2010 - October 2011)