Swearing-in Ceremony for the National Reserve Corps
On Saturday, November 7, Burgemeester van der Haarplein will serve as the setting for the swearing-in ceremony of the 20th Infantry Battalion of the National Reserve Security Corps. New soldiers will take the oath or pledge before the corps’ standard. The ceremony will be accompanied by music from the corps’ brass band.
It is a long-standing tradition within the Dutch Armed Forces to officially swear in new recruits. Each year, approximately 400 soldiers are sworn in by the National Reserve Corps. The new reservists come from South Holland, North Holland, and Gelderland. The ceremony begins at 2:00 p.m. and is open to the public.
Banner
One notable detail is the corps’ banner. At the top of the banner pole stands a Dutch lion. It rests on a gold-colored casket containing a small scoop of Dutch soil. The idea behind this is that new military personnel, even when stationed abroad, can always take their oath or pledge on Dutch soil.
Significant contribution
The 2,800 reservists of the National Reserve Corps are available for guard and security duties in the Netherlands. They are part of the 11th Airmobile Brigade, the “red berets” in Schaarsbergen. The reservists fulfil their military duties alongside their civilian jobs or studies. In doing so, they make an important contribution to peace and security.
Parking Spaces Closed
Starting Friday, November 6, at 6:00 p.m., the parking spaces on Burgemeester van der Haarplein and in front of the Uitvoerend Bedrijf on Koninklijke Marinelaan will be unavailable and inaccessible. The Ministry of Defense will be setting up the swearing-in ceremony site there.