"napoleons dutch troops uniforms ??" Topic

still trying to figure my way in this era
question for you
i understand napoleon had dutch troops in his army before they switched sides to the allies
what i want to know is did these troops have different uniforms/ headwear or did they have the same as regular french troops ,if different any images available out there

Standard French uniforms. Holland had been annexed to the Empire in, IIRC, 1809, and the Dutch army as an independent force had ceased to exist.

Tend to be basic French cut but the headgear plumes and cords different if I remember. Plumes on the left side of the shako for example.

You don't mean the Grenadiers of the Guard do you? 3rd regt, loved by all, as such great uniforms and unique details.

Or what was then 2nd regt lancers of the Guard…whatever you call them. Chevaulegers, Red Lancers etc

Wardog,
first they didn't switch sides but in 1813 were freed from French domination.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands existed from 1806 up to 1810 when the Netherlands were incorporated into France. The then existing Dutch regiments were incorporated in the French army so from that moment on they wear the French uniform (although it probably took some time before they received their uniforms I guess).
In French service they provided the 2nd (later 3rd) regiment grenadiers of the guard, the Dutch 2nd lancers of the guard, the pupilles of the guard, 4 line regiments (numbered 123 up to 126),33rd light regiment, 14th cuirassiers, 11th hussars and did form a regiment of artillerie.

During the Kingdom of Holland the infatnry had a different uniform with the side plumed shako

Knoetel did plates of these troops in his work of the 1890's:

link

and

link

The 1st battalion of the 2nd Dutch and the 2nd battalion of the 4th Dutch were sent to Spain, along with a company of engineers, and a horse artillery battery, forming the second brigade of the "German Division" of the 4th Corps.

Perry makes these infantry advancing.

This division is popular here on the Miniatures Page, for it include the 2 battalion 2nd Nassau (grenadiers with colpaks!); and 4th Baden (2 battalions, all in helmets with "raupe") as the 1st brigade.

The 3rd brigade has the 2 battalion Hessen Darmstadt Gross und Erb Prinz regiment; the one battalion Frankfurt battalion; and the composite 1 battalion French Garde de Paris, as they entered Spain. The Paris Guard has some troop in green faced red, edged white; and other in red faced green edged white. The "greens" were the first Napoleonic unit I ever did in 30mm converted Charles Stadden wargame figures – my "Christmas battalion!"

GdeP

By the way, I recall a Knoetel plate shown in the old Tradition magazine, with soldiers of the black-, and the dark green-faced units killing von Schill in ?Stralsund? on the north German coast – a Prussian who tried to cause a German uprising while Napoleon was fighting in Austria – 1809.

GdeP

GdP

Uniforms were not quite French-cut – the lapels were different.

From a series of 21 nice plates on the Army of the Kingdom of Holland circa 1806:
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Perry miniatures make a nice range of Kingdom of Holland infantry in 28 mm highly recommended

Thank you, Camcleod! That is the illustration I remember.

But I never noticed at the time that the brim on the fusilier shako was detachable. Notice the profile view of the fusilier at the left edge of the picture.

Prince of Essling, you add variety with the light infantry soldier with sky blue lapels has a cut-away coat, unlike all the fusilier shown so far!

GdeP

GdP
the first ideas in 1806 for the Kingdom of Holland new uniforms was in fact an adaption of the old oen fronted coat but in new colours for the line infantry and the oolder colours for the lights.
But the new king wanted the shorter, front closed coat so that was chosen.

Also don't forget the 35 Suhr drawings of the Dutch Army in "Abbildung der Uniformen aller in Hamburg seit den Jahren 1806 bis 1815 einquartirt gewesener Truppen" posted on Napoleon Online at link

The Perry figures seem to have a fusilier shako that is too high, and with noticeable top "band." These are the 2nd and 4th as for in the field in Spain:

link

In "dress" uniform, they are show with cords on the shakos, which Knoetel does not show.

GdeP

Back in the 1960's, I used to spend a day a month at the main Philadelphia library, researching the Koetel volumes, and Lienhart & Humbert. Their Volume V was French allies. I seem to remember early battalions of the Kingdom of Holland had 8 companies -1 grenadier, 1 light and 6 center.

I understand that Napoleon wanted all troops sent to Spain to be organized and the French – companies.

Anyone have more recent information?

GdeP

Here is a page from Lienhart & Humbert.

I would file the top bands on the Perrys flatter. In proportion, they look about 1/2 inch thick!

GdeP

GdP,

According to page 146 of Street & van Overmeire "Dutch Troops of the French Revolutionary and Napoloeninc Wars 1793-1810":

A Brigade under Baron Chasse left for Spain on 21 August 1808 and contained 2 infantry battalions -1st bat of 2nd Inf Regt & 2nd bat of 4th Inf Regt – organised under the Dutch model (as you have shown). However on 21 September this was ordered to be changed, for these two battalions only, from the standard 9 company organisation at the time to the standard French one of one grenadier, one voltigeur and four fusilier companies per battalion. This was being done by the French to all Allied contingents entering Spain. Later in 1809 there was some regularising of these units."

On 15 June 2nd bat of the 4th Inf Regt became the 2nd bat of the 2nd Inf Regt, whereas the 2nd bat of the 2nd Regt serving elsewhere became the 2nd bat of the 4th Inf regt.