veldtocht

Veldtocht, in Dutch historiography, is a term used for a military campaign conducted by armed forces in the field, away from a fixed fortress or base. The word derives from veld (field) and tocht (journey or expedition). It conveys the idea of mobile operations aimed at achieving strategic objectives through movement and engagement over a defined period.

A veldtocht typically encompasses strategic planning, troop movements, logistics, and a sequence of operations such as marches, battles, raids, and sieges conducted in a theatre of operations. It may involve allied forces and civilian administration, and ends when strategic goals are achieved or the campaign is abandoned. The term is commonly used to describe campaigns spanning weeks or months rather than single engagements.

In Dutch military history, veldtochten are used to label major field operations of the Dutch forces in the Low Countries and abroad, notably during the wars of independence and in later centuries. The designation emphasizes mobility in the open field rather than static sieges.

In contemporary Dutch usage, the term veldtocht is largely historical; in everyday language, campagne or campagne is more common for describing modern campaigns. The concept roughly corresponds to the English term "campaign" or "military campaign," and is distinguished from veldslag (a battle on open ground) and from siege warfare.