The division leads three combat brigades and special forces troops, all of which are fully air-mobile.

[1] Created in 1956, 1st Airborne Division's main tasks were to act as the backbone of counterattacks behind the enemy lines of the Warsaw Pact and to respond to hostile breaks through allied front lines.

The first overseas deployment of this division took place in 1961 when its troops rendered humanitarian assistance to Morocco after a devastating earthquake.

From there on 1st Airborne Division or its successors deployed troops to Somalia, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Congo.

The Dutch forces will remain stationed in the Netherlands but will cooperate in training and exercises of their German counterparts.