Toespraak minister Brekelmans op Lustrumdiner Korps Mariniers
Toespraak minister van Defensie Ruben Brekelmans op het Lustrumdiner van het Korps Mariniers op 10 december 2025.
De toespraak is alleen beschikbaar in het Engels. Gesproken woord geldt.
Good evening, dear friends of the QPO Foundation, and to our distinguished international guests: thank you for being here tonight. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the commanders, officers and senior NCOs of the Netherlands Marine Corps.
First of all, congratulations on your 360th anniversary! Tonight, we are gathered on a ship that holds a special place in our national history. The ss Rotterdam, once the flagship of the Holland-America Line, carried thousands of Dutch citizens across the Atlantic in search of new lives and new opportunities. In a way, their courage mirrors that of our Marines: venturing into the unknown, carrying the spirit of the Netherlands wherever they go, and forging bonds across the seas.
Just as this great ship embodies Rotterdam’s proud maritime heritage, so too is the Marine Corps woven into the fabric of this city – shaped by centuries of service, courage, and unbroken tradition. It was here, in Rotterdam, that during World War II the Germans gave the Marines their legendary nickname: the Black Devils. There is no better place to honour you this evening.
Tonight’s theme is: ‘Honouring the past, defending the present, fighting for the future’. It captures exactly who we are, and what this era demands of us.
And let me speak plainly: defending the present requires more from us today than it has in decades. We face a world of increasing confrontation. At the forefront, of course, is the Russian threat, demonstrated every day in Ukraine – our number one priority. Russia has tripled its weapons production, receives support from Iran, North Korea, and China, and is preparing for a potential conflict with NATO.
This threat is not abstract or far away. It reaches right across Europe and into our own airspace. Russian drones violate our skies. Cyberattacks hit our networks. Espionage and sabotage test our vigilance. We are not living in peace anymore, we are living in a grey zone which is becoming darker. Or, as NATO now calls it, a ‘pre-war zone’.
At the same time, China is becoming more assertive in the Indo-Pacific. Tensions in the Middle East affect us directly. Instability in the Balkans continues to demand our attention. And we, as the Netherlands, need to be more alert in the Caribbean part of our Kingdom.
None of this is reassuring. And all of it has direct consequences for the deployment and required readiness of our Marines.
As Minister of Defence, together with my colleagues across NATO, it is our responsibility to ensure we possess the strength, the unity, and the capability to deal with any confrontation. Not because we seek conflict, but because strength is the surest path to credible deterrence.
After years of downsizing, switching to rapid growth is not easy – but that is exactly what we are doing. With increased resources, we are strengthening our capabilities and our forces.
The Marine Corps is undergoing a powerful transition, leading to smaller, self-sufficient units. This new way of operating requires new gear and new capabilities. Faster, more modern and more heavily armed Future Fast Interceptors are replacing the Friscs. New patrol vehicles are on order, and innovation is a central goal. We are not just building strength for today, but preparing our forces for the risks of tomorrow.
And I am pleased to see that the personnel shortage within our Marine Corps is gradually being reduced. The training standards remain as high as ever, and rightly so: Marine training is not for everyone. But interest remains strong, and that is a testament to the spirit of this Corps.
Around the world, Dutch Marines are making a real impact. From EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina to EUMAM, training the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From anti-piracy missions off the coast of Somalia and across the Indian Ocean to the evacuation of Dutch citizens from Sudan by the Marine Spearhead Task Unit.
And just this August, as part of Atlantic Alliance 2025 on the US east coast, our Marines once again proved their excellence – training alongside colleagues from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom for next year’s NATO missions. Committed, skilled, ready.
Tonight we talk about the present and the future, but also reflect on the powerful traditions that keep us grounded. Ceremonies, rituals, anniversaries – they remind us of sacrifices made, lessons learned, and the unbreakable bonds forged in times of trial. Today’s Marines stand on the shoulders of the generations that went before them.
And for safeguarding that heritage, we owe a deep debt of gratitude to the QPO Foundation. Because of your tireless work, the Corps has its own magazine, its own hymn, its own museum, a traditions room at the Van Ghent Barracks, and countless commemorations. You keep history alive – and identity strong. And I would like to thank you for that.
The modern Marine Corps exists because of powerful alliances forged over centuries. Our bond with the British Royal Marines, formalized in 1973 in the UK/NL Amphibious Force, is a shining example. The British and the Dutch were once adversaries, first divided and then united by history. And now the UK/NL Amphibious Force is recognized as NATO’s Specialized Advanced Amphibious Forces. Brigadier Chris Haw and Brigadier Jamie Norman – thank you for honouring this bond tonight.
Our partnership with the United States is equally defining. When the German occupier disbanded the Netherlands Marine Corps during the Second World War, a new Dutch brigade was formed with the support of the US Marine Corps. That remarkable step was taken on the strength of the personal friendship between the American Corps Commander and his Dutch counterpart – a friendship that became the foundation of a deep and enduring alliance. We are proud to welcome Major General Daniel Shipley and Major General Farrel J. Sullivan this evening.
And of course, since the Cold War, our cooperation with Norway has shaped the very character of the modern Marine Corps. Norway teaches resilience – it’s a place where the extreme cold sharpens the mind, the will, and the body.
And let me highlight the role of our Marines in the Arctic. Because up there, the strategic stakes in terms of our security are enormous, and competition is growing by the day. The presence of Marines sends a clear message: we are watching, even at the end of the world. And although they had to leave early, I would like to thank Vice-Admiral Rune Anderson and Brigadier Steinar Kongshavn for their friendship.
Today, these alliances matter more than ever. In order to avoid war, we need to be prepared. Peace through strength. But if deterrence fails, Europe could face a war of necessity, a war not chosen but imposed. And also for that scenario, we must be prepared.
In the meantime, we will remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine. Weapons and ammunition. Equipment. Training. Because Ukrainians are fighting our ennemy – and Russia must be stopped in Ukraine to prevent Putin from striking elsewhere.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Tonight we dine together. But it is conceivable that five years from now, British, American, Norwegian, and Dutch Marines may be sharing a table under very different circumstances. Commanding officers, Regimental Sergeant Majors: in those moments, you will have to lead. The Netherlands – and all of Europe – rely on your strength, your judgment and your readiness.
Let me end with a more personal anecdote - Pass code 1665 - Winter Training in Norways, Barracks in Aruba and here in Rotterdam: you enriched my years as a minister of Defence.
As we draw to a close… The Royal Netherlands Navy – of which the Netherlands Marine Corps is an inseparable part – upholds a proud tradition at every formal dinner: a toast to our ships at sea. And as Minister of Defence, allow me to carry that tradition forward, in an even broader sense.
I invite you to rise and raise your glasses. A toast to all the men and women – in every role, in every theatre – who at this very moment stand up for our freedom. To our ships at sea.
Thank you.