Page 48 - CoESPU Magazine 2017-3

At that time, the Royal Marechaussee was a part of
the army and tasked with maintaining public order,
law enforcement and safeguarding the main roads.
Although not specifically mentioned, this included
police duties for the army. As such, the Royal
Marechaussee was also part of the national police.
The Royal Marechaussee was the only police force
in many small municipalities, especially in the
southern provinces of Limburg and North Brabant.
In 1908, Queen Wilhelmina assigned to the Royal
Marechaussee the task of guarding the royal palaces,
which previously was performed by gardeners. To
this day, guarding a palace is called “klompendienst”
(cloq service).
On July 5, 1940, the German occupation government
merged the Royal Marechaussee with the
rijksveldwacht and the gemeenteveldwacht. Due to
this, the Royal Marechaussee lost its military status
and the predicate Royal. These changes did not apply
to the Royal Marechaussee outside occupied Dutch
territory. About 200 Marechaussees guarded the Royal Family and the Dutch government in-exile

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