The regiment was named after J.B. van Heutsz, a former Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies who successfully brought the Aceh War closer to an end, and was formed on July 1, 1950.

These included the inscription 'Military Operations Royal Dutch East Indies Army 1816-1950', still carried on the King's Colour.

American and Korean battle streamers, representing the US Presidential Unit Citation, are attached to this flag.

The Dutch casualties are buried at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, including their commander, Lt. Col. Marinus Petrus Antonius den Ouden, who was killed in action during the Battle of Hoengsong in February 1951 (Den Ouden posthumously received the Netherlands' highest military award, the Military Order of William).

[3][4] The traditions of the Regiment van Heutsz are currently maintained by one battalion serving as part of 11 Luchtmobiele (Airmobile) Brigade:[5] From 2006 to 2010, the battalion formed the basis of the battlegroup attached to Task Force Uruzgan, the primary Dutch component of the multi-national forces in Afghanistan.