General

The military of the Netherlands is composed of four branches, all of which carry the prefix Koninklijke (Royal):

Koninklijke Landmacht (KL), the Royal Netherlands Army.
Koninklijke Marine (KM), the Royal Netherlands Navy, including the Naval Air Service and Marine Corps.
Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu), the Royal Netherlands Air Force
Koninklijke Marechaussee (KMar), the Royal Military Police, tasks include military police and border control.

Conscription in the Netherlands was suspended in 1996. All military specialities, except the Submarine service and Marine Corps, are open to women. The Dutch Ministry of Defence employs 68,000 personnel, including both civilian and military personnel.

In 2002 there were 49,580 active personnel in the armed forces, with reserves numbering 32,200. The army numbered 23,150 including 1,630 women. Equipment included 328 main battle tanks. The navy had 13,800 personnel including 3,100 marines. Its fleet included four submarines and 12 surface combatants. The naval aviation unit of 950 was equipped with ten combat aircraft and 21 armed helicopters. The air force of 8,850 personnel (including 975 women) operated 143 combat aircraft and 30 attack helicopters. The constabulary numbered 3,300. The US stationed about 550 troops in the Netherlands. The Netherlands maintained forces abroad in Germany, Iceland and the Netherlands Antilles. The nation also participated in UN and peacekeeping missions in seven regions. Military expenditures were estimated at $6.5 billion in 2000-01, or 1.5% of GDP.

Overview

Military branches:
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Military Police, Defence Inter-service Command (DICO) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 20-49: 3,557,918
females age 20-49: 3,470,377 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 20-49: 2,856,691
females age 20-49: 2,786,495 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 99,934
females age 20-49: 95,818 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.6% (2005 est.)