The Military Intelligence and Security Service ( Dutch: ''Militaire Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst'') is the

military intelligence Military intelligence is a military discipline that uses information collection and analysis List of intelligence gathering disciplines, approaches to provide guidance and direction to assist Commanding officer, commanders in decision making pr ...

service of the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

, which operates under the

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

. (online pdf here: https://www.docdroid.net/nI09Akp/jaarverslag-militaire-inlichtingen-en-veiligheidsdienst-2013.pdf) It is tasked with investigating the security of the armed forces and collects military intelligence from and about foreign countries. The civilian counterpart is the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), which operates under the

Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (; BZK) is the Ministries of the Netherlands, Netherlands' ministry responsible for domestic policy, civil service, public administration, elections, relations with local governments, intelligen ...

History

The forerunner of all intelligence services in the Netherlands was the GS III, which was created shortly before

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. This service later (after WW II) became the LAMID (Army Intelligence Service). In 1986, the Government of the Netherlands started a reform of all (Navy, Army and Air Force) military intelligence and security services. The MID (Military Intelligence Service) was formed. In 1989 and 1990 the existing branches (Navy, Army, Air Force, General Intelligence) of the MID were united to make the service stronger. After that reform the single military intelligence service was renamed Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) in 2002, with more focus on challenges the 21st century would present. The MIVD is located on the grounds of the Frederick Barracks in

The Hague The Hague ( ) is the capital city of the South Holland province of the Netherlands. With a population of over half a million, it is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. Situated on the west coast facing the North Sea, The Hague is the c ...

Mission

* Collecting information on potential and military forces in other countries; * Collecting information on areas where Dutch troops may be stationed, notably on peace keeping missions; * Investigating problems involving officers of the

Royal Netherlands Army The Royal Netherlands Army (, KL) is the Ground warfare, land branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Though the Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, its origins date back to 1572, when the was raised making the Dutch standing a ...

; * Collecting information to prevent any harm to the Army; * Counter-terrorism and counter-espionage; * Other military matters as determined by the Government.

Oversight and accountability

The Minister of Defence is politically responsible for the MIVD. Oversight is provided by two bodies: * The Committee for the Intelligence and Security Services (Dutch: ''Commissie voor de Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdiensten''), comprising the faction leaders of the major political parties represented in the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

. * An Oversight Committee (Dutch: ''Commissie van Toezicht op de Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdiensten'', CTIVD) appointed by the

. The service is, like other intelligence services in the Netherlands, governed by the ''Wet op de Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdiensten 2002'' (Law on the Intelligence and Security Services 2002).

Criticism

In 2024 it was reported that the AIVD and MIVD had recruited journalists to act as their agents domestically and abroad, for which they were paid. This was confirmed in a CTIVD Oversight Committee report. The Dutch Association of Journalists criticized this, with its general-secretary Thomas Bruning saying: "I am ashamed of those who cooperate with this." The CTIVD also criticized the use of journalists by the AIVD and MIVD, saying they did not properly take into account the risks involved in this activity, particularly in high-risk foreign countries.

References

External links

Official website of the MIVD
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutch Military Intelligence And Security Service Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdiensten Militaire Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst Cold War military history of the Netherlands Military intelligence agencies