Dutch M1953 Helmet

The Dutch M1953 Troop Helmet (M53) of the former State Police (Korps Rijkspolitie) is a helmet that was issued to the police in the 1960s and 1970s. This helmet is originally a military model, directly based on the American M1 helmet, but specifically adapted for the State Police and the Riot Police (Mobiele Eenheid - M.E.).

Features of the State Police M53 Helmet

• Color: The helmet features a specific dark blue color.
• Logo: A decal (sticker) or logo of the Korps Rijkspolitie is applied to the front.
• Structure: It is a two-piece helmet consisting of a steel outer shell and a plastic or fiber inner helmet (liner).
• Manufacturers: The outer shells were mostly produced by manufacturers such as Linnemann-Schnetzer (LS) or Verblifa (VB), often featuring a year stamp on the rim (for example, LS 73).
• Inner Helmet: The liners were often supplied by Schuberth (known for the letter N).

Historical Context

The M53 troop helmet remained in use with the military until the 1990s. At the Korps Rijkspolitie, the helmet was deployed during large-scale public order enforcement (the early Riot Police) until the corps was disbanded during the police reorganization in 1994.