Strijdtaken

Strijdtaken is a term used in Dutch military doctrine to denote the essential combat tasks a force must be able to perform in armed conflict in order to achieve decisive outcomes. It is the Dutch counterpart to the concept of warfighting tasks and is used to structure planning, training, and capability development.

The word combines strijd (battle or fight) and taken (tasks). In Dutch defense practice, strijdtaken describe the core activities a force must be able to execute across domains (land, air, sea, cyber, space) and across levels of command, from units to the overarching force. They provide a basis for assessing readiness and guiding investment in personnel, equipment, and procedures.

In practice, strijdtaken cover the key functions involved in waging war and achieving objectives. Common components often include movement and maneuver; fires and targeting; protection and survivability; sustainment and logistics; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and mission command and control. The exact composition can vary by doctrine, branch, and mission context, with some frameworks emphasizing enablement tasks such as health services, maintenance, and interoperability.

Purpose and use: commanders translate strategic and operational objectives into a set of strijdtaken that units must accomplish with the available capabilities. This mapping informs training programs, exercise design, doctrine development, and equipment procurement, ensuring coordinated action across forces during operations.

See also: Warfighting, Dutch Armed Forces, Military doctrine, Defense planning.