Krijgsmacht

Krijgsmacht is a Dutch term that denotes the armed forces of a state, or more generally its military power. It refers to the organized military institutions, including personnel, equipment, training, and command structures, that a country mobilizes for defense, deterrence, crisis management, and international operations.

In the Netherlands, de Krijgsmacht is the collective term for the nation’s armed forces, managed by the Ministry of Defence (Defensie) and led by service chiefs. The Dutch armed forces consist of three main branches: the Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht), the Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine), and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht). The Royal Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee) functions as a military police and security service under the Defence Ministry, performing duties such as domestic security, border control, and protection of royal and critical infrastructure. The Netherlands has moved from conscription toward a professional volunteer force, with recruitment focused on skilled personnel.

Beyond national forces, the concept of krijgsmacht encompasses a country’s overall military capability, including doctrine, readiness, strategic partnerships, and resources allocated to defense. In international relations, discussions about krijgsmacht often address a nation's ability to project power, participate in alliance operations (such as NATO), and contribute to multinational peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.

In summary, krijgsmacht describes both the concrete armed forces of a state and its broader military power, reflecting organizational structure, capacity, and the role of military power in national security and international affairs.