The Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) (English: Commando Corps) is the elite special forces unit of the Royal Netherlands Army.

The troop returned to Europe in July 1944; in the ensuing months, multiple commandos were dropped in the German-occupied Netherlands to establish contact with the Dutch resistance forces.

In September 1944, Dutch commandos joined the Allied paratrooper force to fight in the failed airborne Operation Market Garden.

In addition, the troop fought to free the Dutch island of Walcheren as part of the allied Operation Infatuate in November 1944.

Their journey was aborted following the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, causing the troops to become stuck on the island state of British Ceylon.

While the majority of the troops were recalled to Europe, a group of volunteers were selected to attend a special training course for jungle operations.

This commando unit, named Korps Insulinde, was tasked with conducting guerrilla warfare, sabotage and intelligence operations on Sumatra, against the Japanese occupiers.

The unit conducted numerous successful contraguerrilla operations, while simultaneously gaining notoriety for its harsh treatment of insurgents during the South Sulawesi campaign.

On 1 July 1950, via parliamentary recommendation, the KST merged with the training command Stormschool in Roosendaal to form the present Korps Commandotroepen (KCT).

In the context of heightened tensions between NATO and the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War, the commandos were trained to carry out reconnaissance behind enemy lines, sabotage and intelligence operations.

In addition, commandos were selected to become part of the Dutch stay-behind network which was tasked with setting up an underground resistance organisation in the case of a Russian invasion.

Since the 9/11 Attacks, terrorism became the biggest threat, resulting in a high demand for specialist counter-terrorism units, capable of operating expeditionary.

[8] The current structure of the KCT is as follows:[9] The Commando companies each consist of several teams (ploegen) with their respective specialisations, such as mountain specialists, divers or HAHO/HALO paras.

This try-out is to test each individual's physical and mental stamina, monitored by the KCT cadre and Defense psychologists, who will make a profile of each participant.

Civilian candidates have to successfully complete the AMOL, the 23-week Air Assault school training of the 11 Airmobile Brigade, as a means to adequately prepare them with basic military skills and drills.

Military candidates will skip the basic training, and start with the eight-week vooropleiding (VO), the "warm-up" as a preparation for the elementary commando course (ECO), which is the selection.

2 (Dutch) Troop commandos wore the standard uniform of the British Army, supplemented with a field cap or the brodie helmet.

[20] In December 2019, a Royal Decree announced that new battle honours were to be displayed on the colours of several units that deployed to Afghanistan, this included the KCT.

[21] The colour of the KCT currently displays the following embroidered battle honours: In 2016, the Korps Commandotroepen was awarded the Military Order of William for bravery, leadership, and courage during operations in Afghanistan.

When TFU became operational, in August 2006, the commandos were tasked with conducting enemy disrupting reconnaissance and supported conventional troops when needed.

In the spring of 2007, the commandos played a crucial role in the intense Battle of Chora where they performed a successful flanking of enemy positions in the Baluchi Valley.

Until the end of 2007, the task force was engaged in a constant stream of troops-in-contact, during which they eliminated many Taliban insurgents while taking no casualties themselves.

[27] During an operation in September 2009, corporal Kevin van de Rijdt was killed in action during a ferocious battle in the valley of the Helmand river.

[28] Major Gijs Tuinman was awarded the Military William Order in 2014, for his heroic leadership during the evacuation efforts of the body of corporal Van de Rijdt.

[33] After tensions rose between Albanian rebels and the Macedonian army, NATO intervened to prevent an all-out civil war from developing.

[34] Six commandos were deployed to Iraq in May 1991 as part of Operation Provide Comfort, and were tasked with setting up communications between the Dutch contingent and the Netherlands.

[39] On 10 November 2004, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to evacuate all Dutch citizens and diplomatic personnel, situated in the port city of Abidjan in civil-war-torn Ivory Coast.

On the 11th of November, Operation Golden Eagle commenced and two commando teams were flown to Abidjan by a Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10.

The commandos returned on the 14th of November by a Royal Netherlands Air Force C-130 Hercules, accompanied with the last remaining diplomatic personnel.

The detachment was tasked with gathering intelligence, setting up communications on the ground with allied troops, and guarding the Dutch embassy in the capital of Beirut.