# Commandant of the Netherlands Marine Corps

The Commandant of the Netherlands Marine Corps (Dutch: Commandant van het Korps Mariniers, lit. 'Commander of the Corps of Marines') is the head of the Dutch marines. The current commandant is Jan Hut [nl].

## History
### 17th century

The billet was created in 1665 as the Colonel and Commandant of the Regiment of Marines (Dutch: Collonel en Commandant van het Regiment de Marine), first held by Willem Joseph baron van Ghent. It was known under that title until 1669 and from 1678 to 1698. From 1669 to 1678 it was known as the First Colonel of the Regiments of Ship Soldiers (Dutch: Eerste Collonel van de Regimenten Scheepssoldaten).

### 18th century

From 1698 to 1711 and from 1772 to 1795, the billet was called First Colonel of the Marine Regiment (Dutch: Eerste Collonel van de Regimenten Mariniers). From 1711 to 1772 the billet was called Colonel and Commandant of the Marine Regiment (Dutch: Collonel en Commandant van het Regiment Mariniers).

### 19th century

From 1814 to 1817 the billet was known as the Commandant of the Marine Battalion (Dutch: Commandant van het Bataillon Mariniers).
In 1817 it received its current title of Commandant of the Marine Corps. From 1850 to 1853 and 1864 to 1871 the billet was known as Commandant and Inspector of the Marine Corps (Dutch: Commandant van het Bataillon Mariniers).

### 20th century

From 1909 to 1927 the billet was renamed to Inspector, then from 1927 to 1940 it was known as Chief. In 1940 it was renamed back to Commandant and has remained under that name.

## List of commandants

1. Colonel Willem Joseph baron van Ghent, 18 December 1665 – 25 September 1669: "Colonel and Commandant of the Regiment of Marines", thereafter 25 September 1669 – 7 June 1672: "First Colonel of the Ship Soldier Regiment"
2. Colonel George Johan baron van Weede van Walenburgh, 7 June 1672 – 12 September 1678: "First Colonel of the Ship Soldier Regiment"
3. Colonel Johan Belgicus, graaf van Hoorn, baron van Boxtel, heer van Lokeren, 12 September 1678 – 30 December 1694: "Colonel and Commandant of the Regiment of Marines"
4. Colonel Willem van Soutelande, 30 December 1694 – 1 November 1698: "Colonel and Commandant of the Regiment of Marines", thereafter 1 November 1698 - 1702: "First Colonel of the Marine Regiment"
5. Major General Karel Willem baron de Sparre [nl] (until 1704 a lieutenant general), 1702 – 11 September 1709: "First Colonel of the Marine Regiment"
6. Major General Philippe Claude Touroud de St. Amant, 11 September 1709 – 7 September 1711: "Major General and First Colonel of the Marine Regiment"
7. Colonel Lodewijk baron van Leefdael, 7 September 1711 – 11 March 1729: "Colonel and Commandant of the Marine Regiment"
8. Colonel Jacob van Berchem (after 1742 a major general), 11 March 1729 – 27 July 1744: "Colonel and Commandant of the Marine Regiment"
9. Colonel Willem van Dijssel, 27 July 1744 – 18 June 1745: "Colonel and Commandant of the Marine Regiment"
10. Colonel Dirk van Hoolwerf (after 1747 a major general), 18 June 1745 – 21 May 1748: "Colonel and Commandant of the Marine Regiment"
For the period May 21, 1748 to July 23, 1763, no data is known about Regiments of Marines, but about ship detachments.
11. Colonel January Marius de Salve [nl] (vanaf 1766 Major General) 23 July 1763 – 21 September 1768: "Colonel and Commandant of the Marine Regiment"
12. Colonel Robert Douglas 21 September 1768 – 24 August 1772: "Colonel and Commandant of the Marine Regiment", thereafter 24 August 1772 – 1 July 1795: "First Colonel of the Marine Regiment
From July 1, 1795 to February 6, 1814: no commander known.
13. Captain P.R. Cantzelaar 6 February 1814 – 27 okt 1815: "Commandant of the Marine Battalion"
14. Major J.Stelling 8 November 1815 – 9 December 1816: "Temporary Commandant of the Marine Battalion"
15. Captain F.W. Fagel 9 December 1816 – 1 February 1817: "Commandant of the Marine Battalion"
16. Captain P. Ziervogel 1 February 1817 – 3 December 1831: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
17. Major R. de Sitter 3 December 1831 – 22 July 1837: "Interim Commandant of the Marine Corps"
18. Lieutenant-Colonel J.A. Besier 22 July 1837 – 16 November 1842: "Interim Commandant of the Marine Corps" 16 November 1842– 30 April 1850: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
19. Colonel J.D. Musquetier 1 May 1850 – 1 January 1853: "Commandant and Inspector of the Marine Corps"
20. Kapitein-lieutenant-ter-zee G.C. Zoutman 1 January 1853 – 11 March 1855: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
21. Lieutenant-Colonel C.M. Nabal 1 April 1855 – 1 May 1858: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
22. Captain A.J. Voet 1 May 1858 – 1 May 1864: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
23. Captain H. Camp 1 May 1864 – 1 May 1871: "Commandant and Inspector of the Marine Corps"
24. Colonel D. Vreedenburg 1 May 1871 – 1 May 1875: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
25. Colonel J.H. Stengel 1 May 1875 – 1 November 1881: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
26. Colonel F.A. van Braam Houckgeest 1 November 1881 – 1 May 1892: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
27. Colonel A.H.W. de Gelder 1 May 1892 – 1 May 1896: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
28. Colonel J.H. van Wely 1 May 1896 – 1 August 1903: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
29. Colonel J.B. Verheij RMWO RNL 1 August 1903 - 17 September 1903: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
30. Colonel J.R.J.P Cambier 17 September 1903 – 17 August 1908: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
31. Colonel A.P. Timmers 17 August 1908 – 1 April 1909: "Commandant of the Marine Corps" 1 April 1909 – 1 April 1913: "Inspector of the Marine Corps"
32. Colonel G.A. Linckers 1 April 1913 – 1 September 1917: "Inspector of the Marine Corps"
33. Colonel L. De Jonge Oudraat (1862-1930) 1 September 1917 – 1 September 1920: "Inspector of the Marine Corps"
34. Colonel C.P. van Borselen (1864-1936) 1 September 1920 – 2 August 1924: "Inspector of the Marine Corps"”
35. Colonel P.S. Groen 2 August 1924 – 1 January 1927: "Inspector of the Marine Corps"
36. Colonel J. Oele 1 January 1927 – 1 November 1934: "Chief of the Marine Corps"
37. Colonel C.J.O. Dorren 1 November 1934 - 1 September 1938: "Chief of the Marine Corps"
38. Colonel H.F.J.M.A. von Frijtag Drabbe, (after 21 August 1945 a major general) 1 September 1938 – 15 June 1940: "Chief of the Marine Corps", thereafter until 1 March 1948: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
39. Major General M.R. de Bruijne (from 16 February 1953 to 27 February 1953 a lieutenant general) 1 March 1948 – 15 February 1953: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
40. Major General P.J. van Gijn 27 February 1953 – 13 September 1954: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
41. Major General H. O. Romswinckel, 23 September 1954 – 17 July 1958: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
42. Major General H. Lieftinck, 17 July 1958 – 1 July 1960: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
43. Major General J.G.M. van Nass, 1 July 1960 – 17 February 1967: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
44. Major General A.M. Luijk, 17 February 1967 – 10 April 1970: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
45. Major General C.C. Schoenzetter, 10 April 1970 – 19 April 1973: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
46. Major General A.C. Lamers, 19 April 1973 – 1 February 1977: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
47. Major General A.J. Romijn, 1 February 1977 – 10 January 1980: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
48. Major General J.J.A. den Haan, 10 January 1980 – 7 January 1983: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
49. Major General T. Rudolphie, 7 January 1983 – 18 September 1987: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
50. Major General W.J.I. van Breukelen, 18 September 1987 – 3 October 1991: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
51. Major General R. Spiekerman van Weezelenburg, 3 October 1991 – 16 December 1995: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
52. Major General E.C. Klop, 16 December 1995 – 6 September 2001: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
53. Major General W.A.J. Prins, 6 September 2001 – 9 September 2004: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
54. Major General R. Zuiderwijk, 9 September 2004 – 24 August 2007: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
55. Brigadier General R. Verkerk, 24 August 2007 – 30 March 2012: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
56. Brigadier General R.G. Oppelaar [nl], 30 March 2012 - 18 March 2016: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
57. Brigadier General F.V. van Sprang [nl], 18 March 2016 - 25 August 2017: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
58. Brigadier General Jeff Mac Mootry, 25 August 2017 - 11 December 2020: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
59. Brigadier General Jan Hut [nl] 11 December 2020 – 11 October 2023: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"
60. Brigadier General Ivo Moerman 11 October 2023 - Present: "Commandant of the Marine Corps"