Swiss troops in Netherlands service

1814 - 1829

by Geert van Uythoven

In 1814, the Netherlands had problems to find enough manpower to bring their young army up to strength. So when the Sovereign Fuerst, already as early as January 1814, learned that the Swiss had proposed to close a capitulation to deliver regiments for Netherlands service, he immediately informed the General-Commissary about this (7 January).

On 23 September, a capitulation was closed with the Bern canton, to take into Netherlands service a Swiss regiment commanded by Colonel Jenner (soon succeeded by Colonel Kirchberger), consisting of a staff and two battalions. Each battalion would consist of 10 companies; the 1st and 10th company being flankers, the remaining (centre) companies called fusiliers. This regiment would receive the number “29” on 15 January 1815. The regiment was garrisoned in ‘s Hertogenbosch.

On 19 October 1814, another capitulation was closed with the Zürich canton, to take into Netherlands service a Swiss regiment commanded by Colonel Ziegler, with the same composition as the regiment from the Bern canton. This regiment would receive the number “30” on 15 January 1815. The regiment was from 1817 on garrisoned in Luik [Liège].

Eight days later, on 27 October 1814, an additional capitulation was closed with the Graubünden canton, to take into Netherlands service a Swiss regiment commanded by Colonel Sprecher, also with the same composition as the regiment from the Bern canton. This regiment would receive the number “31” on 15 January 1815. The regiment was from 1817 on garrisoned in Maastricht.

Finally, on 29 March 1815, the capitulation for a fourth Swiss regiment was closed. This time, the regiment came from the Roman Catholic cantons. Composition was the same as for the other three regiments, with the companies provided by the following cantons:

- Uri canton: one company;

- Schweitz canton: six companies;

- Lower Unterwalden canton: two companies;

- Lucern canton: four companies;

- Zug canton: one company;

- Solothurn canton: two companies;

- Tessin canton: four companies.

This regiment received the number “32” on 15 January 1815, so already before the capitulation was closed! The regiment was from 1817 on garrisoned in Antwerp.

On 24 October 1815 a third battalion was added to the capitulation, with companies provided by the following cantons:

- Uri canton: one company;

- Schweitz canton: two companies;

- Zug canton: one company;

- Upper Unterwalden canton: two companies;

- Tessin canton: four companies.

The battalion was initially with the regiment garrisoned in Antwerp, from 1818 in Mechelen.

Four months later, on 23 February 1816, a fourth battalion was added to the capitulation, with companies provided by the following cantons:

- Schweitz canton: two companies;

- Appenzell canton: two companies;

- Tessin canton: six companies.

It turned out however that the cantons were not able to provide for the necessary men, so the battalion has never been present!

The Swiss troops saw no action in battle during their service in the Netherlands army. On 31 December 1828 it is decided to disband all four Swiss regiments, which is being executed 31 December 1829.

Uniforms:

Clothing, equipment and armament the same as the line infantry with the following exceptions: lapels with 9 horizontal rows of white loops (comparable with those of the East Indian Regiment No.5, which had 7 rows of yellow loops); two rows of white loops on the cuffs and on each side of the collar; white buttons for the 29th, 30th and 31st Regiment; the 32nd Regiment had not white, but orange loops with yellow buttons; collar, turnbacks and lacing was ponceau red for the 29th, orange for the 30th, light blue for the 31st, and red for the 32nd Regiment. 'Dutch' shako's.

© Geert van Uythoven