The Dutch Guards (), nicknamed the Blue Guards () in the late 17th century, were an elite infantry unit of the army of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, also known as the Dutch Republic. Origin In 1573, a company of Foot Guards was raised. In 1599, a guard regiment, called His Highness' Guard Regiment of Foot, or the Regiment Nassau, was created. A second guard regiment, the Regiment of Foot Guards, was raised in 1643, into which the Company of Foot Guards was incorporated. When Prince Willem III became Stadtholder, the Regiment of Foot Guards lost its guard status and became a line regiment; the Company of Foot Guards was transferred to a new guard regiment raised in 1672, named His Highness' Guard Regiment of Foot. This regiment lost all its commanders in the Battle of Seneffe (August 11, 1674); the commander of the Regiment Nassau, Major General Van Solms, amalgamated both regiments into one guard regiment, the Nassau Regiment becoming the 1st battalion, and His Highness' Guard Regiment of Foot becoming the 2nd battalion. The regiment was renamed His Majesty's Guard Regiment of Foot in 1689. From 1688 to 1699, it served as William III of Orange's Guards regiment. Under King William III, the regiment served in England as his personal guard. During this time, it was also known as the "Blue Guards", because of the Nassau blue coats with yellow/orange cuffs and lining. After Willem III died in 1702, the regiment was renamed the Dutch Guards. The uniform became dark blue with poppy red lining and cuffs; white metal buttons on the coat, and white lace loops; waistcoat and breeches became white. This uniform was worn throughout the 18th century. In 1699, William negotiated the second partition treaty (with France) in coordination with the Dutch Estates General and Bentinck but left the English Parliament out of the loop. In revenge, they stopped funding his Dutch Guards, and he contemplated abdication: "I am so angry (William to Heinsius) about what is happening in the House of Commons in the matter of the troops, that I can hardly concentrate my thoughts on anything else. I foresee that I shall have to come to extreme decisions and that I shall see you in Holland earlier than I had intended". Campaigns and battles Notable campaigns in which the guards fought included the Nine Years' War (1688–1697) in which distinguished themselves at