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Jan Swillens

b. 1967

Dutch military officer

Military leader
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About Jan Swillens

Born 1967. Jan Swillens is a Dutch military leader.

Lieutenant general Jan Renger Swillens (20 August 1967) is a Royal Netherlands Army officer and Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army since 2024.

Military career Swillens started his military career in 1985 as a infantry cadet at the Koninklijke Militaire Academie (KMA), after graduating from the KMA, Swillens enlisted in the Korps Commandotroepen (KCT), after earning his green baret, Swillens was appointed as peletoncommandant at the KCT.

In 2012 Swillens was appointed Commandant of the Korps Commandotroepen (KCT), focusing on improving relations of the commandos in the media.

In 2016 Swillens was appointed Commandant of the 43rd Mechanized Brigade.

In 2019 Swillens was appointed Director of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service and subsequently promoted to Major general.

In 2024 Swillens succeeded Martin Wijnen as Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army.

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Important facts

Born
20 August 1967
Birth century
20th century
Occupation
Military leader
Nationality
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Positions held
Commander of the Korps Commandotroepen, Commanding officer, Director, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army
Awards
Commemorative Medal International Missions; Officers' Cross; King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal; Army Foreign Service Medal; Cross for the Four Day Marches; Vaardigheidsmedaille van de Nederlandse Sport Federatie; Military Performance Event Cross of the Royal Dutch Reserve Officers Association; NATO Meritorious Service Medal; Gold Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr; Gevechtsinsigne

People in Jan Swillens's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Portrait of Martin Wijnen
Martin Wijnen
b. 1966
Military leader

Contemporaries

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1927 – 2020
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1927 – 2012
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Robert Kraft
1927 – 2015
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Svyatoslav Fyodorov
1927 – 2000
Politician
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Jacques Rivette
1928 – 2016
Film director

Frequently asked questions

Who is Jan Swillens?

Dutch military officer

When was Jan Swillens born?

Jan Swillens was born on 20 August 1967.

What is Jan Swillens's occupation?

Jan Swillens is a military leader.

What nationality is Jan Swillens?

Jan Swillens is Dutch.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jan Swillens

· Wikidata: Q64657804

· DBpedia: Jan Swillens

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jan Swillens. https://biography.guide/jan-swillens/

MLA: "Jan Swillens." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jan-swillens/.

Chicago: "Jan Swillens." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jan-swillens/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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