Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy
Encyclopedia
The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy (CZsk) (Dutch: Commandant Zeestrijdkrachten) is the highest-ranking
officer
of the Royal Netherlands Navy
. The CZsk reports directly to the Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff
.
The position of CZsk was created on 5 September 2005, following a large overhaul of the command structure of the Dutch armed forces. In this overhaul the position of Bevelhebber der Zeestrijdkrachten was dropped and the position of Commander of the Naval Force in The Netherlands was upgraded to the current CZsk position. Ever since the integration of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps into the Navy, the former Commander of the Marine Corps has held the position of Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
In addition to being the commanding officer of the Dutch Navy, under the terms of the BENESAM Treaty the CZsk is also the Admiral of the Benelux
(the commanding officer of the integrated command of the Dutch
and Belgian
fleets). This means the CZsk is the commanding officer of the operational units of the Royal Dutch Navy and the Belgian Naval Component.
Also, the CZsk shares command responsibility with the Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff
for units that have been deployed on international missions (under the colors of the United Nations
).
The position of CZsk is statutorily held by a vice admiral
or lieutenant general of the marine corps
(NATO OF-8). The current CZsk is Vice Admiral
Matthieu Borsboom
, who succeeded Marine Corps Lieutenant General
Rob Zuiderwijk in the position in January 2010.
Military ranks of the Dutch armed forces
-Koninklijke Landmacht, KL :The Landmacht is the land based part of the Dutch military. Its task are the following:* To defend Dutch soil and that of NATO allies.* To contribute to peace, stability and safety world wide....
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...
of the Royal Netherlands Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. The CZsk reports directly to the Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff
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 position of CZsk was created on 5 September 2005, following a large overhaul of the command structure of the Dutch armed forces. In this overhaul the position of Bevelhebber der Zeestrijdkrachten was dropped and the position of Commander of the Naval Force in The Netherlands was upgraded to the current CZsk position. Ever since the integration of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps into the Navy, the former Commander of the Marine Corps has held the position of Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
In addition to being the commanding officer of the Dutch Navy, under the terms of the BENESAM Treaty the CZsk is also the Admiral of the Benelux
Admiral BENELUX (ABNL)
The Admiral BENELUX is the Commanding Officer of the combined military staff of the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Naval Component of the Belgian Armed Forces ....
(the commanding officer of the integrated command of the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
fleets). This means the CZsk is the commanding officer of the operational units of the Royal Dutch Navy and the Belgian Naval Component.
Also, the CZsk shares command responsibility with the Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff
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...
for units that have been deployed on international missions (under the colors of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
).
The position of CZsk is statutorily held by a vice admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
or lieutenant general of the marine corps
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....
(NATO OF-8). The current CZsk is Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Matthieu Borsboom
Matthieu Borsboom
Vice admiral Matthieu Borsboom is a Royal Netherlands Navy officer who is currently Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy and has served with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.-Naval career:...
, who succeeded Marine Corps 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....
Rob Zuiderwijk in the position in January 2010.
Units
The Commander of the Royal Dutch Navy is Director of four Directorates:- Directorate Planning & Control
- Directorate Operational Support
- Directorate of Operations
- Directorate of the Caribbean
Commanders of the Royal Netherlands Navy
- September 2005 - August 2007: Vice Admiral Jan-Willem Kelder
- August 2007 - January 2010: Lieutenant Generaal of Marines Rob Zuiderwijk
- January 2010–present: Vice Admiral Matthieu BorsboomMatthieu BorsboomVice admiral Matthieu Borsboom is a Royal Netherlands Navy officer who is currently Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy and has served with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.-Naval career:...