Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy
The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy has command of the naval forces. His most important task lies in ensuring that navy units are mission-ready. The commander is responsible for preparing, leading and concluding operations. He reports to the Chief of Defence (CHOD). Vice-admiral René Tas was appointed Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy on 9 September 2021.
Leading maritime operations
The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy leads operations at sea and from the sea by order of the CHOD. He has at his disposal fleet units and the Marine Corps. The Navy also carries out operations with other Services of the Netherlands armed forces and foreign armed forces units.
The CHOD can also instruct the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy to lend support to civil authorities, both in the Netherlands and abroad. That may involve providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, but could also encompass clearing explosives, firefighting or surface and underwater searches.
Admiral Benelux
The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy also holds the position of Admiral Benelux. In this capacity, he is responsible for supervising the Royal Netherlands Navy’s close cooperation with the Belgian navy.