Royal Netherlands Society for War Studies

The Koninklijke Vereniging ter Beoefening van de Krijgswetenschap (Royal Netherlands Society for War Studies, KVBK) aims to promote — in the broadest sense — the study of war and security. The society provides a platform for military professionals, academics, policymakers, students and other interested parties to discuss developments in the field of peace and security.

The society was founded in 1865 by sixteen officers who were concerned about the quality of the armed forces and the lack of public interest in national defence affairs. In 1965, on the occasion of its centenary, the society was granted the designation 'Royal' (Koninklijk).

Since the 1970s, the KVBK has published the Militaire Spectator — the oldest magazine still in print in the Netherlands (since 1832). It contains monthly articles on (inter)national security, military operations, opinion pieces and book reviews.

Today, the KVBK organises at least six events per year (symposia and lectures) with academics, military professionals, politicians and scholars from the Netherlands and abroad. The society currently has over 1,000 members.