Today, the headquarters of 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps is one of NATO’s High Readiness Forces (Land) Headquarters. It is based in the German city of Münster. Back in 1995, on the 30th of August, the Corps was inaugurated as an amalgamation of 1 German Corps and 1 Netherlands Corps.

In 1997, both Germany and the Netherlands, laid down the German-Dutch cooperation in the Corps Convention and the Corps Agreement, which were originally signed that same year. In general, the documents state that Germany and the Netherlands provide the Corps framework on an equal basis; both countries share the responsibility for command & control capabilities.

In November 2002, the Corps headquarters (HQ) received the High Readiness Forces status after successfully passing the Final Operational Capability Check.

Since 2002, the multinational Corps HQ has been based on a Memorandum of Understanding between twelve nations. As a NATO international military HQ, the Paris Protocol and the subsequent agreements apply to the Corps HQ.

Full proof of its HRF capabilities was given on 10 February 2003, when the Corps HQ took over command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan, for a six months period.

Shortly thereafter, the Corps assumed its responsibilities as a Land Component Command (LCC) for the new NATO Response Force (NRF).

As a result, the Corps was on standby as NATO Response Force - 4 during the first half of 2005.

In 2006, the Corps refined its command structure.