Dutch Valor in Color: WW1 Army Exercises, 1917 – Part 1!

This splendid colorized footage illuminates the Dutch Army’s readiness during World War I in 1917, captured in a film commissioned by the Ministry of War and directed by cinema pioneer Willy Mullens. Premiered on January 9, 1917, with Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik in attendance, "Leger en Vloot" showcases non-combat exercises—soldiers biking, dog-drawn machine gun carts, and carrier pigeons in action—proving Holland’s neutrality was not to be trifled with. From Queen Wilhelmina’s horseback inspection to a quirky scene of soldiers zipping across a river on wires, this restored archive, set against the backdrop of a mobilized yet neutral Netherlands, grips history buffs and military enthusiasts with a vibrant, peaceful glimpse of a nation on alert nearly a century ago.