Problems of Defence in a Non-belligerent Society: Military Service in the Netherlands during the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century

Abstract

EVERY student of the Dutch armed forces during the nineteenth century is bound to conclude that, from a military standpoint, the Netherlands was very backward. The Dutch achievement in the field of defence is perhaps summed up in the phrase, ‘the less, the better’. The army was kept as small as possible and drew its recruits from the lowest strata of society. The training period was reduced to a minimum — at one time not more than about three months. Compared to that of neighbouring countries Dutch military expenditure was very modest indeed and only figured in the budget for the sake of decency. No wonder both armaments and equipment were in short supply and usually obsolete. The same indifference obstructed the necessary modernization of the army organization and defence principles in general. During the nineteenth century these remained virtually unchanged.