- Marechaussee
- Organisation
Commander of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee
The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee falls directly under the Minister of Defence, to whom he is accountable for some of the Marechaussee’s tasks. In addition, the commander chairs the Marechaussee Board, the most senior decision-making body in the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.
Lieutenant General D. (Dick) van Putten has been Commander of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee since 24 April 2008.
From 1975 to 1979, Lieutenant General Van Putten attended officers’ training with the Royal Netherlands Air Force at the Royal Military Academy. He subsequently worked for the air force until 1983.
In 1983, he joined the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, where he held various appointments. For instance, from 1991 to 1993, he was commander of the Marechaussee unit assisting the Antillean police in combating crime in St Martin.
From 2000 to 2002, he was Head of Plans with the Defence Staff at the Ministry of Defence. From September 2004 to June 2005, he served in the leadership of the National Police Services Agency. From August 2005 to January 2008, Lieutenant General Van Putten was Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.
As Commander of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, Lieutenant General Van Putten is also Governor of The Hague, and as such responsible for military ceremonies in that city.
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