The Holland Regiment (later The Buffs), like the Admiral's Regiment, has also been raised to serve at sea, and both of these two "Naval" regiments are paid for by the Treasurer of the Navy by Order of Council of July 11, 1665.

They are also different in that they have no pikemen, every man being issued a musket.

The Regiment is very distinctive, being dressed in yellow, rather than the red coat of the other regiments.

The origins of the regiment lie in Thomas Morgan's Company of Foot, The London Trained Bands which was in existence from 1572 to 1648. They fought in the Low Countries during the Dutch Revolt taking part in many sieges and battles in that time.

In 1665 when the Second Anglo-Dutch War starts the British and Scotch Brigades of the Dutch army had been ordered to swear loyalty to the Stadtholder.

Those who disobeyed were cashiered.

Using his own funds, Sir George Downing, the English ambassador to the Netherlands, has raised the Holland Regiment from the starving remnants of those who refused to sign.