Ranks in the Dutch army






In the Dutch and Belgian army we had the following ranks between 1813-1815:

Generaal, Luitenant-generaal, Generaal-majoor, Colonel. Luitenant-colonel, Majoor, Kapitein, 1e Luitenant, 2e Luitenant, Adjudant, Sergeant-majoor, Sergeant & Fourier, Korporaal, Soldaat.

At the end of 1815, early 1816 the rank of 2nd Colonel was added, for commanders of the 'afdelingen'.
Soldaat 1e Klasse was added only years later.
In early 1814 there was a rank called 'onder adjudant (deputy adjudant)' but that rank was soon abandoned (before 1815).

Notes: The epaulettes of silver of gold, depending on the colour of the uniform buttons. Colours of buttons are depending on the type of unit. Line infantry had gold, militia white. The stripes and stars on the epaulettes in the other colour. Example; a silver epaulette had gold stripes or colours. Below all colours are given for the militia. For line units the colours are reversed. For chevrons, for NCO's, the same rules. Militia are white and silver; Line units are yellow and gold. All officers of the mobile (active) army should wear the Orange Sash. There is no difference in uniform between 1st and 2nd luitenant.

Korporaals were also indicated by a short sword with a white leather stripe on which they had one small orange tassel. Sergeants, fouriers and Sergeant-Majoors had the same equipment, but only with a silver stripe. See equipment page for a picture.

With the cavalry and horse artillerie the ranks had different titels as usual with these units:

Kapitein = Ritmeester
Sergeant-Majoor = Opper wachtmeester.
Sergeant = Wachtmeester.

And with the artillerie:
Sergeant-Majoor = Bombardier majoor.
Sergeant = Bombardier.

Above and below information is the only correct one; as it is coming directly from the Recueil Militair; 9-1-1815 order number 53 (page 61, part 1).

These ranks were shown as follows:

Korporaal:

2 white chevrons on low arms (both arms) of 24 streep in width and
180 streep from the cuffs (210 on kapot/ grey winter coat). One 'streep' is one millimetre.


Sergeant:

1 silver chevron on low arms (both arms) of 24 streep in width and
180 streep from the cuffs (210 on kapot/ grey winter coat). One 'streep' is one millimetre.


Fourier:

1 silver chevron on upper arms (both arms) of 24 streep in width
and 30 streep above elbow. One 'streep' is one millimetre.


Sergeant Majoor:

2 silver chevrons on low arms (both arms) of 24 streep in width and
180 streep from the cuffs (210 on kapot/ grey winter coat). One 'streep' is one millimetre.


Adjudant:

1 silver epaulet (light model) on left shoulder.Officer sword without any tassels.


2de Luitenant:

1 silver epaulet (light model) on right shoulder.
Sword with silver tassels. Dark blue Horse shabraque with gold gallon of
26 streep in width on the edge.


1st Luitenant:

1 silver epaulet (light model) on right shoulder.
Sword with silver tassels. Dark blue Horse shabraque with gold gallon of
26 streep in width on the edge.


Kapitein:

1 silver epaulet (heavy model) on right shoulder.
Sword with silver tassels. Dark blue Horse shabraque with gold gallon of
40 streep in width on the edge.


Majoor:

2 silver epaulets (light model) with 2 small gold stripes on both shoulders.
Sword with silver tassels. Dark blue Horse shabraque with gold gallon of
55 streep in width on the edge.


Luitenant Colonel:

2 silver epaulets (light model) with 1 wide gold stripe on both shoulders.
Sword with silver tassels. Dark blue Horse shabraque with gold gallon of
55 streep in width on the edge.


Colonel:

2 silver epaulets (heavy model) on both shoulders. Sword with
silver tassels. Dark blue Horse shabraque with gold gallon of
55 streep in width on the edge.


Generaal Majoor:

2 silver epaulets (heavy model) with two 6 point gold stars on both shoulders. Sword with
silver tassels. With wide gold gallons on color and cuffs, 60 streep in width. Dark blue Horse
shabraque with two gold gallons. The first, outside gallon, 22 streep in width. The second 60
streep in width. Between the two; 20 streep.


Luitenant Generaal:

2 silver epaulets (heavy model) with three 6 point gold stars on both shoulders. Sword with
silver tassels. With wide gold gallons on color and cuffs, 60 streep in width. Dark blue Horse
shabraque with two gold gallons. The first, outside gallon, 22 streep in width. The second 60
streep in width. Between the two; 20 streep.


Generaal:

2 silver epaulets (heavy model) with four 6 point gold stars on both shoulders. Sword with
silver tassels. With wide gold gallons on color and cuffs, 60 streep in width. Dark blue Horse
shabraque with two gold gallons. The first, outside gallon, 22 streep in width. The second 60
streep in width. Between the two; 20 streep.