Orange-Nassau No.28

We are a semi-competitive Holdfast Regiment. Orange-Nassau No.28 has been founded on the 13th of July, 2019.


The Orange-Nassau regiment, recruited in the Duchy of Nassau, ranks in the infantry of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the number 28. The Kolonel was Prince Bernard of Saxe-Weimar. During the uprising of Germany in 1813, the principality of Orange-Nassau, which had been dismembered in 1806 and integrated in the Kingdom of Westphalia, was restored and raised an infantry regiment which had to count two battalions.

The 1st Battalion was organized in December 1813 and formed part of the body of the Duke of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha; A company of hunters was attached to it, composed of volunteers from the well-to-do classes, who equipped and armed themselves at their expense. The body took part in the headquarters of Mainz.
On the 18th of July, 1814, an agreement was concluded between the United Provinces (Holland) and the principality of Nassau to make the regiment of this principality pass to the service of Holland, as auxiliary troops.

This regiment was to be of three battalions of light infantry, whose total strength, including the depot, was to be 3032 men. A deposit of two companies was to remain in the States of Nassau. The soldiers were to be born in the states of Nassau. The recruits had to commit for a period of six years. The convention provided that the regiment would rank after the light infantry regiments of Nassau, or that it would have a number in the Dutch army; it is this last option that has prevailed.
The regiment could not be employed outside Europe or on-board State vessels; it could only be used in Zeeland 'when needed' (Zealand was considered 'the most unhealthy country in the world').

The regiment was in two battalions of six companies (including two flankers and four riflemen), totalling 50 officers and 1531 men.
Each company consisted of: 1 Kapitein, 1 Luitenant, 1 Onder-Luitenant, 1 Sergeant-Majoor, 4 Sergeants, 4 quartermaster, 8 Korporaal, 2 drums and 121 Soldaat.
The Orange-Nassau No 28 on campaign

During the Waterloo campaign, the Regiment Oranje-Nassau No. 28, led by Kolonel Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, served as part of the 2nd Brigade, commanded by Kolonel Friedrich von Goedeck, of the 2nd Netherlands Division (2e Divisie), commanded by Luitenant-Generaal Baron Hendrik George de Perponcher Sedlnitsky.

They were joined in the 2nd Brigade with the Compagnie vrijwillige jagers 'Oranje-Nassau' (Volunteer Jager Company, or hunters), under the command of Kapitein Emilius Bergmann.

They fought at Quatre Bras and Waterloo as part of the 1st Corps of the Dutch-British Alliance, under the command of General William, Prince of Orange, overseen by Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington.