Korps Mariniers

Korps Mariniers
Badge and Insignia of the Korps Mariniers
Active	10 December 1665 – present (351 years, 1 month)
Country	Netherlands
Allegiance	Government of the Netherlands
Branch	Royal Netherlands Navy
Type	Marine Corps
Role	Expeditionary Force Rapid Reaction Force Special Operations Force
Size	~ 2,300 (1 Brigade/Regiment)
Garrison/HQ	1 Marine Combat Group – Doorn 2 Marine Combat Group – Doorn 32nd Raiding Squadron – Aruba Surface Assault and Training Group (SATG) – Texel NLMARSOF (NetherLands MARitime Special Operations Forces)– Doorn
Nickname(s)	"The Black Devils"
Motto(s)	Qua Patet Orbis ("As Far as the World Extends")
Engagements	Second Anglo-Dutch War Third Anglo-Dutch War War of the Spanish Succession Battle of Texel Battle of Seneffe Battle of Dogger Bank Bombardment of Algiers Rotterdam Blitz Battle of the Java Sea Battle of Java Iraq War War in Afghanistan
Commanders
Current commander	Brig.Gen. Richard Oppelaar

The Korps Mariniers is the marine corps and amphibious infantry component of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines are trained to operate anywhere in the world in all environments, under any condition and circumstance, as a rapid reaction force. The Korps Mariniers can be deployed to any location in the world within 48 hours. Their motto is Qua Patet Orbis ("As Far As The World Extends").

The corps was founded on 10 December 1665 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War by the Prime Minister of the Dutch Republic, Johan de Witt, and Admiral Michiel de Ruyter as the Regiment de Marine. Its leader was Willem Joseph van Ghent. The Dutch had successfully used ordinary soldiers in ships at sea in the First Anglo-Dutch War. It was the fifth European Marine unit formed, being preceded by the Spain's Infantería de Armada (1537), the Portuguese Marine Corps (1610), France's Troupes de marine (1622), and the English Royal Marines (1664). Like Britain, the Netherlands has had several periods when its Marines were disbanded. The Netherlands itself was under French occupation or control from 1810 until 1813. A new Marine unit was raised on 20 March 1801 during the time of the Batavian Republic and on 14 August 1806 the Korps Koninklijke Grenadiers van de Marine was raised under King Louis Bonaparte. The modern Korps Mariniers dates from 1814, receiving its current name in 1817.

The battle honours on the Korps Mariniers' colors are: