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Coalition forces - Netherlands
Netherlands military participation in the ISAF through Task Force Uruzgan, providing the principal part of the Provincial Reconstruction Team - Uruzgan, as well as forces in Kandahar and Kabul.
Introduction
In 2006 the Netherlands government decided to send 1800 troops to participate in the NATO-led (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in southern Afghanistan. From August 2006 onward about 1,750 Dutch troops were deployed in Afghanistan as Task Force Uruzgan under the ISAF Stage III, principally as the the core of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Uruzgan. The Australian Reconstruction Task Force in Uruzgan was fully integrated into the Dutch-led PRT. Another 200 troops were deployed long-term in Kandahar, and a further 200 for the duration of the Dutch command of the multinational regional ISAF on rotation from August 2006 to May 2007. Two hundred Netherlands troops were also stationed in Kabul. Dutch forces in Uruzgan are mainly located in Tarin Kowt (1,000) and Deh Rawood (370), with a Forward Operating Base Poentjak. Command of the regional ISAF rotates between the Netherlands and the UK.
Translation tool for Dutch-to-English: Babel Fish
Government sources
Facts and Figures: The Netherlands in Afghanistan, Koninkrijk der Nederlanden [Government of the Netherlands], 22 February 2007 [English]
The Netherlands in Afghanistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, December 2006 [English]
"As military as necessary...
"In recent years, the Netherlands took part in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the international coalition led by the US, deploying planes, helicopters, ships and Special Forces in the fight against terrorism. The Netherlands has now terminated these activities.
"The Netherlands has also played an important role in building the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). In 2002 an army company was deployed and staff personnel assigned to the various headquarters; in 2003, the Netherlands headed ISAF together with Germany; in 2004 an Apache helicopter unit was assigned to Kabul and a Provincial Reconstruction Team was set up in Baghlan; and in 2005 F16 fighter plane units did a tour of duty in Afghanistan. All in all, the Netherlands has been an important factor in ISAF. Also, NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, is a Dutch diplomat with considerable experience of work at the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
"At this time, between 1500 and 1800 Dutch troops are stationed in the southern province of Uruzgan. Their mission is to provide the security needed for reconstruction. The troops are divided between two bases. Approximately 1200 troops are stationed at Tarin Kowt, the larger of the two. The smaller one is in Deh Rawood, where some 300 soldiers are working. Part of of all these soldiers form the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). Another 300 Dutch troops are stationed at Regional headquarters in Kandahar. The troops in the south of Afghanistan are supported by six Apache combat helicopters, five Cougar helicopters and six F16 fighter planes. Staff from the Koninklijke Marechaussee, the Royal Military and Border Police, have been assigned to Uruzgan to train the Afghan police."
News, Ministry of Defence, The Netherlands [English]
Useful, regularly updated Ministry news bulletins. The remainder of the English-language site is empty.
Missies: Afghanistan (ISAF), Ministerie van defensie [Ministry of Defence] [Dutch]
Large useful site.
Afghanistan, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs [English]
Useful large site, with regular news updates and background information on policy, military organisation and operations, and reconstruction.
The Netherlands in Afghanistan - bi-weekly newsletter, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs [English]
DoD Press Briefing with Royal Netherlands Army Maj. Gen. Van Loon from the Pentagon, Department of Defense, US, 30 April 2007
Presentation on Uruzgan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) , Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), NATO, 15 February 2007
"Mons, Belgium. 'We have seen good results in Uruzgan every time we involved the local population in our reconstruction and development plans', Lieutenant-Colonel Nico Tak said at a briefing about his recent experiences in Uruzgan, southern Afghanistan, to an audience of the SHAPE Officers’ Association here today. He and his Dutch Army colleague, Lt Colonel Piet van der Sar, both recently returned from their mission in the Asian country.
"Lt Colonel Tak, who was the commander of a Dutch Provincial Reconstruction Team in Uruzgan, spoke very openly and enthusiastically about his mission. He was surprised to find so many different actors in his Area of Responsibility: Governmental, Non-Governmental, Afghan National Army and Police, ISAF, and many others. Coordination between all these actors was a complex and huge task in itself. 'It all looks very promising for the future', said Lt Colonel Tak."
Context Analysis / Uruzgan Province, Prepared by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan
Dutch government analysis of geographic, social and political context.
Netherlands - Support for Operation Enduring Freedom, Central Command, US Department of Defense
Bases
Kamp Holland
Kamp Holland is located in the town of Tarin Kowt [Tirin Kot], the provincial capital of Oruzgan province, and the main base for Task Force Uruzgan and PRT Uruzgan.
Tarin Kowt, Ministerie van defensie [Dutch]
Kamp Holland, Wikipedia [Dutch]
Substantial article.
Kamp Holland, Wikipedia [English]
Very brief.
Kamp Holland, Uruzgan Weblog [Dutch and English]
Large collection on Kamp Holland, continually updated.
Kamp Hadrian
Kamp Hadrian is located in the town of Deh Rawood, 60 km west of Tarin Kot.
Camp Hadrian, Wikipedia [Dutch]
Deh Rawod, Ministerie van defensie
Substantial description.
Deh Rawod/Deh Rawood, Uruzgan Weblog [Dutch and English]
Large collection on Kamp Hadrian, continually updated.
Fire base in Deh Rawood, Oruzgan, used by Dutch, US and other coalition forces.
Forward Operating Base (FOB) Poentjak
FOB Poentjak is located at Shurk Murgab, about 12 km northeast of Tarin Kowt.
Patrouillebasis Poentjak/(NL) FOB, Uruzgan Weblog, [Dutch and English]
Uruzgan Weblog collection on FOB Poentjak.
Poentjak, KRO - Uruzgan, [Dutch]
Maps
Tarin Kowt [Tirin Kot] area map
Source: Afghanistan, Uruzgan Province, Land Cover Map, AIMS, 2002
Deh Rawood [Deh Rawod] area map
Source: Afghanistan, Uruzgan Province, Land Cover Map, AIMS, 2002
Location of Dutch bases, Uruzgan
Source: Locatie van de patrouillepost Poentjak (© NRC Handelsblad, 20 januari 2007)
Map of ISAF regional commands and PRT locations
[see clickable map on this page]
Analysis and commentary
News and background sources
Uruzgan weblog: Openbare informatie over Task Force Uruzgan, de Nederlands/Australische bijdrage aan de door de NAVO geleide 'International Security Assistance Force' (ISAF) in Afghanistan. [Public information on Task Force Uruzgan, the Dutch/Australian contribution to the NATO ISAF]
The best public source on Dutch military activities and policies in Afghanistan. Excellent weblog collecting Dutch- and English-language materials on a comprehensive set of topics relating to the Dutch and Australian role in Afghanistan and the ISAF, and on the province of Oruzgan. Long list of clickable topics.
Task Force Uruzgan, Wikipedia [English]
Very brief article.
Task Force Uruzgan, Wikipedia [Dutch]
Substantial detailed article.
DutchNews.nl [English]
Searchable English-language Dutch news service
Missie Afghanistan, De Volkskrant [Dutch]
Afghanistan special focus section of left-leaning newspaper. Updated regularly.
Uruzgan, Boejke Pienter - De 'Way of life' van de militair [Dutch]
Large site on a number of different aspects of the Dutch presence in Afghanistan. Good visuals.
Uruzgan series: My State-failure Blog, (Peter Marton, Hungary)
English-language commentary on Dutch and Australian role in Uruzgan. Useful for links.
Weekly updates from Uruzgan, Militaryphotos.net
Useful private English-language blog dealing with Netherlands forces in Uruzgan.
KRO - Uruzgan, [Dutch]
Substantial website from KRO [Catholic Radio] media consortium. extensive video, audio, image and text files.
Dossier: Uruzgan, Elsevier
Dossier: Missie Afghanistan, NOS Journaal
Netherlands' Afghanistan policy debates
Dutch Still Divided on Afghanistan Mission, Angus Reid Global Monitor, 23 April 2008.
Adults in the Netherlands are divided over their country’s current mission in Afghanistan, according to a poll by Maurice de Hond. 49 per cent of respondents oppose the Dutch engagement in Uruzgan, while 46 per cent support it. Afghanistan has been the main battleground in the war on terrorism. The conflict began in October 2001, after the Taliban regime refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people. The Netherlands committed troops to the war on terrorism in Afghanistan. At least 790 soldiers—including 16 Dutch—have died in the conflict, either in support of the United States-led Operation Enduring Freedom or as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Battle of Chora
Battle of Chora, Wikipedia
The Battle of Chora on C-SPAN, 6 August 2007,
Two-part David Axe video report, available on YouTube. Unusual detail on Tarin Kowt and its surrounding region, Kamp Holland, Provincial Reconstruction Team Uruzgan, and the June 2007 battle at Chora north of Tarin Kowt between Dutch and Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents, leading to the deaths of several dozen Taliban and civilians, and two Dutch soldiers.
Axeghanistan Day Eight: Dutch Battle Taliban, David Axe, Washington Times, 19 June 2007.
See also
- Australia and NATO, Australian Forces Abroad
- Coalition forces, Australia in Afghanistan
- PRT - Oruzgan, Australia in Afghanistan
- Reconstruction Task Force, Australia in Afghanistan