Source: https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v2_cou_nl_rule14
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 15:11:38+00:00

Document:
During an attack on a military objective, the collateral damage (loss of civilian life and damage to civilian objects) may not be excessive in relation to the military advantage anticipated from the attack. In every combat action, therefore, the commander must assess whether the action is to take place in the proximity of civilians or civilian objects.
The Military Manual (2005) of the Netherlands states that “the humanitarian law of war” limits “military force in order to avoid … unnecessary suffering”.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, § 0118.
The manual lists “proportionality and subsidiarity” as one of five “generally accepted principles of the humanitarian law of war”.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, §§ 0221 and 0223; see also § 1028.
Collateral damage and degree of force used must not be excessive in relation to the expected military advantage. This is known as the principle of proportionality. Proportionality implies that no more force may be used than is strictly necessary to achieve the set purpose. Moreover, no more force must be used than necessary to defeat the enemy. The principle of subsidiarity requires a commanding officer, when choosing from a number of means, to choose that which causes the least collateral damage. The principles of proportionality and subsidiarity are developed further in Chapter 5 (points 0541 ff.) and elsewhere.
During the Second Gulf War, the Iraqi military had placed aircraft in hangars in residential districts. To destroy these aircraft from the air, by indiscriminate bombing, would not have been proportionate. In any case, since the aircraft were in hangars in residential districts, they posed no direct threat, and indiscriminate bombing would undoubtedly have caused (severe) collateral damage to civilian property.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, § 0229 and p. 33.
In its chapter on behaviour in battle, the manual states that “disproportionate damage to civilian objects and the civilian population caused by attacking military targets must be limited”.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, § 0504.
- attacks which may be expected to strike the civilian population excessively hard. AP I [1977 Additional Protocol I] describes these as attacks that may be expected to cause collateral loss of life among civilians, damage to civilian objects on a scale that is excessive in relation to the military advantage anticipated.
0517. Put more simply, in an attack on a military objective, the collateral damage (loss of life among the civilian population and damage to civilian objects) must not be disproportionate to the military advantage to be gained by the attack on the military objective. The commanding officer must therefore weigh up, when an action is contemplated near civilians or civilian objects, whether it should take place (proportionality).
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, §§ 0516–0517.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, § 1035; see also § 1046.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, § 1054.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, p. 198.
The RoE [Rules of Engagement] describe the way in which a peace force may use force (and actions classifiable as provocative) and the means to be used to this end. The RoE are based on the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity in the use of force: use no more force than necessary to achieve the purpose, and ensure that no less invasive alternatives are available.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, § 1218.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, § 1220.
In its written statement submitted to the ICJ in the Nuclear Weapons case in 1995, the Netherlands stated: “The general principles of international humanitarian law in armed conflict also apply to the use of nuclear weapons … in particular … the prohibition on attacking military targets if this would cause disproportionate harm to the civilian population”.
Netherlands, Written statement submitted to the ICJ, Nuclear Weapons case, 16 June 1995, § 32; see also Written statement submitted to the ICJ, Nuclear Weapons (WHO) case, 6 June 1994, § 39.
The guidelines for target selection during aerial bombardments are based on the relevant provisions of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Amongst others, all reasonable precautionary measures must be taken to avoid civilian casualties and to prevent collateral damage to civilians objects. In practice, Dutch fighter pilots will not attack targets, when it is likely that civilians will be present. Also, an attack may not be carried out if the collateral damage to be expected reasonably does not relate to the actual and direct military advantage.
Netherlands, Lower House of Parliament, Statement by the Minister of Defence, Handelingen, 2003–2004 Session, 27 October 2003, Appendix No. 206, pp. 439–440.
An attack should not proceed when an obvious lack of proportion appears to exist between the expected military advantage and the expected collateral damage. The decisive factor is whether a normally alert attacker, in receipt of and acting on due information, could have expected the excessive damage among the civilian population and civilian objects.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, §§ 0511 and 0543.
Commanders and others responsible for planning, deciding upon or executing attacks necessarily had to reach decisions on the basis of their assessment of the information from all sources which was available to them at the relevant time.
Netherlands, Statement at the CDDH, Official Records, Vol. VI, CDDH/SR.42, 27 May 1977, p. 205, § 1.
It is the understanding of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that military commanders and others responsible for planning, deciding upon or executing attacks necessarily have to reach decisions on the basis of their assessment of the information from all sources which is available to them at the relevant time.
Netherlands, Declarations made upon ratification of the 1977 Additional Protocol I, 26 June 1987, § 6.

References: § 0118
 § 1028
 § 0229
 § 0504
 § 1035
 § 1046
 § 1054
 § 1218
 § 1220
 § 32
 § 39
 § 1
 § 6