Netherlands

˜The œmilitary and society, pp. 197–215

Abstract

Abstract This chapter examines the role of the Netherlands armed forces in supporting civilian authorities during the COVID-19 crisis, focusing on their motivations, development, and coordination of military support. It begins with an overview of the composition and domestic role of the Netherlands armed forces, after which it delves into the constitutional and legislative frameworks. Next, the chapter maps the role of the Netherlands armed forces, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. It details the evolution, nature, and dynamics of military support activities and how this extensive involvement influenced civil-military relations. The findings highlight that effective civil oversight and accountability stemmed from a balance of trust and control, emphasizing the importance of open dialogue, collective goals, and connected organizational structures. Additionally, empirical data underlines that the Dutch armed forces has become a structural partner in crisis response, challenging the premise of last resort. This chapter concludes that maintaining the role of last resort requires a careful balance between domestic- and classical tasks (defending the state) to guarantee operational readiness.

Authors 2

1. Huib Zijderveld corresponding

   Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · Netherlands Defence Academy

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Military Sciences, Royal Netherlands Defence Academy, Breda, The Netherlands

   Faculty of Organizational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2. Annelies van Vark Aachen Royal Netherlands Marechaussee

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands