I would like to point out that this material is not from a Company of Military Historian's article and plate on the "21st. Marine Regt. in Surinam, 1772-79." Plate No.509, but from Dutch sources.

Throughout the 18th century the colonies were garrisoned only by local militias "Schutterij", and volunteer units of local civilians raised for particular threats. There is no information on the uniforms of these units, or if they even wore them? There were only 2 occasions when the Home Authorities thought the situation serious enough to send "Regulars" out to the colonies; A slave uprising on Berbice in 1763, and a war against the "Bush Negros" in Surinam which broke out in 1772. In both cases the Dutch Authorities raised new Infantry Regiments, designated "Marines" for service in the colonies; only after their return to the Netherlands did they go on the "Regular" establishment as numbered Regiments of the line.

For the Berbice uprising the "Marine Regiment" of Colonel Jan Marius de Salve was raised, which arrived in Berbice in January 1764 and left in May 1765: on it's return home it went into the Dutch Line as the "19th. National (Marine) Infantry Regiment".

For the Berbice expedition it was organized as a Battalion of 693 men, including 36 Artillerymen and 24 Pioneers (a "self-supporting" little Corps); on their return home they were reorganized into 2 Infantry Battalions.

The unit raised for service in Surinam was the "Marine Regiment" of Colonel Louis Henri Fourgeoud; it arrived in Surinam in March 1773 and left in March 1777 on its return home it became the "21st. National (Marine) Infantry Regiment," for service in Surinam, it was organized as a Regiment of 2 Battalions, each of 7 fusilier companies (no grenadiers), totalling initially 500 men (which makes for a company strength of about 35 men).

On campaign both of these units seem to have adapted their uniforms. An existing inventory of items sent out to Berbice in 1763 lists 621 leather caps, 1242 pair made-up long pantaloons of Flemish linen, and 621 pair "half gaiters", the sane sort of items appear to have been sent out to Surinam during the campaigns there (though there is no existing documentation on them).

After these "Expeditions," things went back to "Normal" in the colonies, except that the corps of "White Jagers" and "Black Jagers" were retained in Surinam in the pay of the colony. Following the outbreak of War with England in 1795 the colonial garrisons were strengthened (although it is not entirely clear whether the troops involved were Regulars sent out from Holland, or locally recruited units?).

An "Order of Battle" for Surinam only is known for late 1795:

The Defensive Forces:
3 Battalions Infantry (all of 1 grenadier and 4 fusilier companies).
2 Companies Artillery.
2 Companies "Blanke Jagers".
The Corps of Free Negros ("Zwarte Jagers";

The Militia Forces;

4 Companies in Paramaribo (known as the Orange, White, Blue and Green companies, after their flags).
10 "Divisions" along the river (those of Thoraxica, Para, Lower-Corrrnewijne, Upper-Commewijne, Lower-Cottica, Upper-Cottica & Pirica, Matappica, Upper-Suriname, Wanica, and Jood) Nothing is known of the uniforms of these units.

In April 1736 the British took Demarara, Essequebo and Berbice, while in August 1790. they took Surinam and in September 1800 Curacao and the surrounding; islands. Following the peace of Amiens 1802, all the former Dutch possessions in the West Indies were returned to the Batavian Republic. On January 5th 1802, 4 Battalions of West-Indian Jagers, (each of 8 companies) 4 independent Companies of Artillery and a small Engineer Corps were raised (in Holland), to garrison the Dutch West Indies. In March 1802 these units were incorporated into the Dutch Ar-my, the Jager Battalions being numbered 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th of the Dutch Line.

During the second-half of 1802 they were shipped out to the Colonies, their established garrisons were to be:

5th Jager Battalion: Surinam
6th Jager Battalion, staff and 4 companies: Berbice.
6th Jager Battalion, 4 companies: Essequebo and Demarara.
7th Jager Battalion: Essequebo and Demarara.
8th Jager Battalion: Staff and 2 companies: Curacao. 
8th Jager Battalion: 1 company Sint Eustatius.
8th Jager Battalion: 1 company Sint Martin.
8th Jager Battalion: 4 companies Surinam.
1st Independent Artillery Company Surinam.
2nd Berbice, St. Eustatius and St. Martin.
3rd Essequebo and Demarara.
4th. Essequebo and Demarara and Curacao.
Engineer Corps split between Surinam and Curacao.

In Surinam the "White Jager Corps" was incorporated into the 5th. and 8th. Jaager Battalions during 1803, the "Black Jager Corps" remained in existence as an independent unit. Various Militia units existed in most of the colonies, but little information on them.

There were no dress regulations for the West-Indies colonial units, fortunately there are a few contemporary paintings of the Jagers: a painting of the 5th. Battalion by Capt. P. Groenia a small anonymous painting of a man from the 7th, Battalion (wearing an almost identical Uniform), and a painting by J.A. Langendijk of 2 officers of an unspecified Battalion, both wear bicorne hats with white "cockade loops" and tassels, green plumes with white tops, long skirted. coats virtually identical to the men's with silver buttons and epaulets, white waist-coats, one wears long tight white pantaloons buttoning at the ankle, over white stockings with silver--buckled shoes, the other has long mid--green pantaloons with a, white piping down the outside leg seam, in short black boots (cut to a point at the front), both have sabres on white waistbelts (narrow).

There are no depictions of the other branches, though the Artillery are believed to have worn the normal Batavian Republic Artillery uniform(?).

In 1803 War broke out again, in September/October 1803 the British forces retook Demarara, Essequebo, Berbice and Curacao with it's dependencies. In May 18o4 a combined British Portuguese (from Brazil) force capturing Surinam. The Dutch Colonial forces were shipped home and disbanded, being incorporated into the Army of the Kingdom of Holland in 1806.

Uniforms of the Dutch East Indies 1795-1873

Historical Background
History of the Regular Units
Dress Regulations

Part 2: Uniforms of the Dutch West Indies 1795-1873