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Defense Department (The Netherlands)

Ministerie van Defensie

Last modified: 2014-06-28 by andrew weeks
Keywords: defense |
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[minister of defense new flag] image by Mark Sensen, 5 Oct 2003 Other Defense pages: See also:

Minister of Defense

Information based on Album 2000 with details VVKM9 (official flag regulations for the Dutch navy).
The Minister of Defence (Dutch: Minister van Defensie) uses a white flag (2:3) with along the top and the bottom three horizontal stripes red, white and blue, each 1/12th of the flag height. At the centre of the flag a foul anchor with on top  of it the lion from the national arms. Placed under it the motto "Je Maintiendrai" (that is French, meaning: I shall maintain) in latin letters. Placed above this the air force eagle, all in gold.
Adopted by Order in Council on 10 April 1957.
The emblem is taken (and modified a little) from the image at the Shipmate site.
About <nl~mindf.gif> at <nl~minis.html>: this was the flag of the Minister of Navy (Minister van Marine). In 1958 the Ministry of War (Ministerie van Oorlog) and Ministry of Navy were merged to form the Ministry of Defense. The title Minister of Defense was introduced in 1956, both ministries were already lead by the same person from 1947.
Mark Sensen, 5 Oct 2003

Flag of the Minister of Navy (1931-1957)

minister of defence image by Mark Sensen, 5 Nov 2006

Minister of the Navy - Source: Flags of All Nations [hms58].
Miles Li, 23 Aug 2005

In september 1928 the Ministry of Navy was merged with the Ministry of War to form the Ministry of Defence.
A flag for the Minister of Defence was adopted by Order in Council of 20 July 1931. This Order in Council does not have a description but only refers to the accompanying plate (with some details for the dimensions).
The flag has a ratio of 2:3 and is white with along the top and the bottom three horizontal stripes red, white and blue, each stripe 1/12th of the flag height. At the centre of the flag two crossed black anchors.
In July 1941 the ministry was split up again, the Minister of Navy continued the flag of the Minister of Defence.
By Order in Council of 1 October 1945 the Order in Council of 20 July 1931 was amended to read "Minister of Navy" instead of "Minister of Defence".
In 1958 the two ministries were merged once more. A new flag for the Minister of Defence (a title re-introduced in 1956 for the combined minister of war and navy) was adopted in 1957. This is flag is still in use.
Mark Sensen, 5 Nov 2006

Flag and pennant of the Minister of Navy (1816-1928)

[minister of navy pennant]
[minister of navy] images by Mark Sensen, 5 Nov 2006

In Order in Council of 16 March 1816 concerning the regulations for marks of honour and salutes, for the Minister of Navy is given: the ordinary Dutch flag with the ordinary pennant (i.e. a red-white-blue pennant) flown above.
<nl^minnp.gif> (pennant) and <nl^.gif> (flag) attached.
(Note: I included <nl^.gif> because <nl.gif> has a bit different shades of red and blue than all other GIFs).
Mark Sensen, 5 Nov 2006

Flag of the Minister of War

[minister of war] image by Mark Sensen, 8 Nov 2006

Minister of the War - Source: Flags of All Nations [hms58].
Miles Li, 23 Aug 2005

A flag for the Minister of War was adopted by Ministerial Order of 12 July 1934.
The flag has a ratio of 3:4 and is white with along the top and the bottom three horizontal stripes red, white and blue, each stripe 1/12th of the flag height. At the centre of the flag the lion from the Dutch coat of arms in red.
Mark Sensen, 8 Nov 2006

Secretary of State for Navy

[Secretary of State for Navy] image by Mark Sensen, 5 Nov 2006

Minister of the Navy - Source: Flags of All Nations [hms58].
Miles Li, 23 Aug 2005

In 1948 the office of Secretary of State was introduced. A flag for the Secretary of State for Navy was adopted by Order in Council of 3 September 1949. This Order in Council does not have a description but only refers to the accompanying plate.
The flag has seven equal horizontal stripes red-white-blue-white-red-white-blue. At the centre of the flag a white disk, the height nearly equal to three stripes, charged with two crossed black anchors.
Mark Sensen, 5 Nov 2006

Secretary of State for War

[Secretary of State for War] image by Mark Sensen, 8 Nov 2006

Secretary of State for War - Source: Flags of All Nations [hms58].
Miles Li, 23 Aug 2005

A flag for the Secretary of State for War was adopted by Ministerial Order of 26 July 1949.
The flag has a ratio of 3:4 and has seven equal horizontal stripes red-white-blue-white-red-white-blue. At the centre of the flag a white disk, the height nearly equal to three stripes, charged  the lion from the Dutch coat of arms in red.
Mark Sensen, 8 Nov 2006

Flag of the Secretary of State of Defence (1959)

[secretary of state of defence 1959] image by Mark Sensen, 12 Nov 2006

By Order in Council of 31 December 1959 a flag was adopted for the Secretary of State for Defence in charge of affairs concerning the Royal Netherlands Army and Royal Netherlands Air Force.
The flag has a ratio of 3:4 and has seven equal horizontal stripes red-white-blue-white-red-white-blue. At the centre of the flag a white disk, the height 96/100 of three stripes, charged with the lion from the Dutch coat-of-arms in gold, accompanied at the top with the air force eagle in gold, and at the bottom the motto "Je Maintiendrai" (also from the Dutch coat-of-arms) in capital latin letters in black on a scroll of gold.
Mark Sensen, 12 Nov 2006

Flag of the Secretary of State of the Army (1963)

[Secretary of State of the Army (1963)] image by Mark Sensen, 12 Nov 2006

In 1963 this secretarial department was split, and on 13 December 1963 flags were adopted for both the Secretary of State for Defence in charge of affairs concerning the Royal Netherlands Army, and the Secretary of State for Defence in charge of affairs concerning the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
The flag of the former has a ratio of 3:4 and has seven equal horizontal stripes red-white-blue-white-red-white-blue. At the centre of the flag a white disk, the height 96/100 of three stripes, charged with the lion from the Dutch coat-of-arms in gold and at the bottom the motto "Je Maintiendrai" (also from the Dutch coat-of-arms) in capital latin letters in black on a scroll of gold.
Mark Sensen, 12 Nov 2006

Flag of the Secretary of State of the Air Force (1963)

[Secretary of State of the Air Force (1963)] image by Mark Sensen, 12 Nov 2006

The flag of the Secretary of State for Defence in charge of affairs concerning the Royal Netherlands Air Force has a ratio of 3:4 and has seven equal horizontal stripes red-white-blue-white-red-white-blue. At the centre of the flag a white disk, the height 96/100 of three stripes, charged with a flying eagle in gold, at the top the royal crown in gold.
(The wings of the eagle extending a little outside the disk).
Mark Sensen, 12 Nov 2006

Flag of the Secretary of State of Defence (1971)

secretary of state of defence image by Mark Sensen, 5 Oct 2003

In 1971 the three separate secretaries of state for navy, army, air force were replaced by a single secretary of state.
A flag of seven equal horizontal stripes red-white-blue-white-red-white-blue was adopted by Order in Council on 20 October 1971.
Mark Sensen, 12 Nov 2006

Chief of Staff

[Chief of Staff] image by Mark Sensen, 5 Oct 2003

Chief of Defence Staff (Chef Defensiestaf). Seven equal horizontal stripes red-white-blue-white-red-white-blue, with in the centre a green circle with a diameter 4/10th of the flag height. In this circle four swords.
Adopted with three sword by Order of the Minister of Defence on 13 December 1974.
I assume the swords stand for the military branches: navy, army, air force and (service independent from the army in 1998) marechaussee (military police).
Mark Sensen, 5 Oct 2003

In Vexilla Nostra [vxn] 238 (July-September 2003) I found the confirmation that the swords stand for the military branches, and that the marechaussee became independent from the army in 1998.
However, it also says that the the handles of the old version were brown, while at the new version they are yellow. At my GIFs I had them both light brown. The blades are white, which I forgot to mention.
Mark Sensen, 18 Oct 2003

Since monday 5 september 2005, the "Chef Defensiestaf" ("Chief of Defence Staff") of Dutch defence has a new title, namely "Commandant der Strijdkrachten" ("Commander of the Armed Forces").
See "Chef Defensiestaf nu Commandant der Strijdkrachten".
As far as I know the flag hasn't changed.
Mark Sensen, 6 Sep 2005

Chief of Staff former flag

[Chief of Staff] image by Mark Sensen, 5 Oct 2003

Chief of Staff c. 1939 flag

[Chief of Staff 1939] image by Jarig Bakker, 31 May 2005

"Wie, Wat, Waar? 1940", an annual published by the Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad in Nov. 1939, shows a flag for the "Chef v.d. Generale Staf": white, bordered orange; in center a white 4-pointed star fimbriated orange, charged with a lion rampant with in its left paw a bunch of arrows and in its right paw a sword, all orange. The star is surrounded by four three-pointed crowns, and c. 16 spots arranged circularly, all orange.
At the time General Reynders was the Chief of Staff. After the second world war this flag was apparently replaced by another one - less conspicuous.
Jarig Bakker, 31 May 2005

Are you sure that the proportions are NOT 2 to 3?
Miles Li, 23 Aug 2005

Chief of Staff c. 1930? flag

[Chief of Staff 1930] image by Jarig Bakker, 23 Jun 2005

In "The International Flag Book in Colour", by Pedersen, 1971 [ped71] is a flag for the Chief of the Defense Staff:
white field, bordered orange, charged with two olive branches in saltire, enclosing 4 6-pointed stars, placed 1,2,1, all yellow.
Pedersen explains: or Joint Services Commander-in-Chief - introduced c. 1930.
Derkwillem Visser, in "Gemeentevlaggen en Wapens Koninkrijk der Nederlanden", 2001, has the same image, attributed to "Opperbevelhebber Land- en Zeestrijdkrachten - omstreeks 1939" (commander in chief Land and Sea forces, c. 1939).
Jarig Bakker, 23 Jun 2005

Chief of Defence Staff ("Commanding General, Netherlands and National Sector" according to [hms58]).
Miles Li, 23 Aug 2005

Commander-in-Chief, First Netherlands Corps

[Commander-in-Chief, First Netherlands Corps] image by Miles Li, 24 Aug 2005

Commander-in-Chief, First Netherlands Corps - Source: Flags of All Nations [hms58].
Miles Li, 24 Aug 2005

Inspector General

[Inspector General] image by Mark Sensen, 5 Oct 2003

Inspector General Armed Forces (Inspecteur-Generaal der Krijgsmacht).
Seven equal horizontal stripes red-white-blue-white-red-white-blue, with in the centre a circle with a diameter 4/10th of the flag height. This shows in circular form the emblem of the Inspector General, which is orange with a blue cross over all, the lion from the national arms on the centre of the cross.
Adopted by Order of the Minister of Defence on 26 March 1982.
The Inspector General of the Netherlands Armed Forces is the ombudsman for the Defence organisation. The functions of Inspector General for the Army (est. 1945), Inspector General for the Navy (est. 1946) and Inspector General for the Air Force (est. 1953) were merged on 1 January 1970. All these functions were until 1976 held by Prince Bernhard. I've seen photos of Prince Bernhard with the badge on his uniform. I don't know if the similarity between the emblem and the royal flag is a coincidence or not.
Mark Sensen, 5 Oct 2003

Department of Defense

[Defense Department flag] image by Stefan Lambrecht, 17 Jan 2008  http://www.flagchart.net

Mark Sensen spotted this link.
Info: On all military establishments on which daily the Dutch flag is hoisted it is allowed to hoist the flag of the military division. This flag is hoisted immediately after the national flag and lowered immediately before the national flag, if it is impossible to hoist and lower them simultaneously.
The measurements have to be equal or smaller than the national flag. The divisional flag may be used also at public presentations outside the military establisments. They have been included in the flag-catalogue.
It is allowed to use old divisional flags, but only in the military establishments.
Defense Department (Ministerie van Defensie (including the Central Organisation))
Stefan Lambrecht, 19 Mar 2005

Royal Navy (Koninklijke Marine)

[Royal Navy flag] image by Stefan Lambrecht, 17 Jan 2008  http://www.flagchart.net

Royal Landforce (Koninklijke Landmacht)

[Royal Landforce flag] image by Stefan Lambrecht, 17 Jan 2008  http://www.flagchart.net

Royal Airforce (Koninklijke Luchtmacht)

[Royal Airforce flag] image by Stefan Lambrecht, 17 Jan 2008  http://www.flagchart.net

Command Service Center (Commando DienstenCentra)

[Command Service Centers flag] image by Stefan Lambrecht, 17 Jan 2008  http://www.flagchart.net

This used to be Defense Interservice Command (Defensie Interservice Commando)

Defense Material Organisation (Defensie Materieel Organisatie)

[Defensie Materieel Organisatie flag] image by Stefan Lambrecht, 17 Jan 2008  http://www.flagchart.net

There is one new flag for "Defensie Materieel Organisatie" (Defense Material Organisation), see this webpage (probably the fellows who are blamed when anything goes wrong...)
Description: blue field; at the hoist 4 orange flydiagonal stripes; in the fly a triangular form of intertwined tyrss.
Jarig Bakker, 17 Jan 2008