The Royal Netherlands Navy Mine Service was established in 1907 when the first Dutch naval mine, Type 1907, was taken into service.[4] The decision to introduce the naval mine was made a year earlier in 1906 and was likely influenced by the important role that mines had played during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904.[5][6] The first minelayers and minesweepers that were used by the mine service consisted of ships that had been modified to be able to lay or sweep mines.[7]
World War I
During the First World War the minelayers of the mine service laid several defensive minefields to defend the neutrality of the Netherlands.[2][8] The idea behind the minefields was that it would make it harder for foreign naval ships to enter Dutch territorial waters.[9] Besides laying minefields the ships and personnel of the mine service were also involved in disabling drifting and stranded mines.[9] The important role of the mine service during this period led to a increase of new material.[10][7] As a result the mine service had at the end of the First World War 17 minelayers in service.[6]
Woudstra, F.G.A. (1982). Onze Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN90-6013-915-1.
Raven, G.J.A., ed. (1988). De kroon op het anker: 175 jaar Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw. ISBN90-6707-200-1.
Roetering, B., ed. (1997). Mijnendienst 1907-1997 90 jaar: feiten, verhalen en anekdotes uit het negentigjarig bestaan van de Mijnendienst van de Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). ISBN90-90-10528-X.
