Yesterday, the Dutch Telegraph released a special edition of their newspaper, regarding the 200 year anniversary of the Dutch Army. Below, you can see a photo of the report which claims that the Dutch Army has adopted Netherlands Fractal Pattern (NFP) as their official new camouflage. The story does not mention the Dutch Royal Marines who continue to wear M81 Woodland camouflage. However, they may well make the transition to NFP as well. Although the article states that no one has been chosen to manufacture the uniforms yet, they will feature FR and insect repellant properties.
The article goes on to state that another feature of NFP, which took one-and-a-half years to develop by a collaborative effort between TNO and Dutch MoD, is that it’s recognizable. Ben Vlasman, head of the Joint Soldier Systems Knowledge Centre (joint kenniscentrum militair & uitrusting), says it’s not just to camouflage, but also offers something recognizable for other troops and civilians.
NFP is currently offered in two variants; Green aka Woodland and Tan aka Arid. To develop the colorways, they sent soldiers to the area of operations with a camera and a color card in ordeer to determine the dominant colors in each area.
The article did not mention which pattern would be adopted for use with camouflage pattern for equipment such as plate carriers. What’s more, the Dutch Army must still determine a way ahead for armor (ie plate carrier or armor vest). Considering the current state of the art it is probable that the vest will be modular is probable. The article mentions two scenarios in particular; worn lightly for a patrol in the jungle, or worn heavily when at a roadblock.
Thanks Robert!
Tags: Netherlands
Maybe its just me but the camo kinda looks like a pattern the ss used in ww2
I’d say, closer to Finnish M05, cold weather variant. But with stronger dispersion of spots. Finnish one blends well with tree trunks, covered with pale lichens and moss during winter. While Waffen SS patterns didn’t have that pale gray spots, and their pattern had larger scale.
If it’s stupid and it works, it’s not stupid.
In the last picture (the magazine/newspaper) The pattern on the right I’m assuming the arid patterns looks a bit like multicam.
It certainly appears to use a similar, if not same palette.
For the earlier article:
https://soldiersystems.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Dutch-5.jpg
The arid pattern is almost exactly multicam colors, but in the same pattern as the green one. It has been mentioned that all of their military will wear the pattern. Part of the initiative was to save money. The photo I saw proposed for pouches and packs was light tan, lightish brown, lightish green, and dark green.
Looks like smaller-scale flecktarn with a lot more grey. Neat looking pattern.
Uniform was developed by NFM so, probably, their GARM ensemble will be chosen.
No, NFM was just used for the uniform and some hardware for the initial trial suits.
However, as mentioned in the article a choice has still to be made for the hardware (armor, pouches, backpack). I have been informed by a member of the JKCM&U that the winner of this deal will not only supply the uniform and hardware, but also new underwear, sleepings bags etc. The whole package, so to say.
In that perspective it is interesting that the offer from Sagem indeed includes the NFM uniforms and hardware. And that the Dutch commandos now deployed in Mali wear NFM (multicam) uniforms.
looks like the girl is wearing the plate about stomach level..
I noted that too. However they just have a few trial body-armors laying and not in very small sizes.
That female is wearing her armor as sized for that freak of nature two photos up…
I fail to see the point in this. You dont see patterns like this at 100 yards or over. This trend towards differing gucci camo patterns is stupid.
And the Internet Expert of the day award goes too…
Yeah I know everybody loves their camouflage patterns and questioning the trend towards new pattens is sacrilegious.
The idea behind a pattern like this is that it should work at all ranges. Up close the contrasts will provide most of the breakup and at a distance the smaller fractals blend to create larger blocks of color.
What is the armor carrier on first photo
Multi-ops vest by Dolphin. Google profile equipmemt, you’ll find it there
@SSD: last year I showed a picture of the ‘transitional’ pattern which was displayed at the Bizondere Burendagen in the village of Steenwijk. This transitional pattern was meant for all the hardware like packs, plate carriers and such. Maybe you can include it in this article.
However, there really isn’t anything new mentioned in the article. We are still at the same point (because of funds). The pattern has been chosen, but we are still waiting on the decision of which vendor is granted the contract (for the whole package, as mentioned in my previous answer to BS).
I really hope for Sagem, because their deal includes the NFM Garm line..
Your photo on another site is the “transitional” I was referring to above. In fact many of your posts over the last few years have been my source of information on the topic. Thank you very much Ipkiss. I cant’ wait to see what packs and pouches they pick as well as the definite pattern.
Thanks, Zach.
Indeed, information is minimal but from time to time I talk to some of the workers at the JKCM&U and dinscuss about ongoing projects.
Flektarn tropical?
Adidas is branching out into camo and apparently has NFP for sale: http://www.adidas.com/us/camo-windbreaker/M30311_470.html