Amsterdam  - One Dutch soldier was killed and three others injured during operations in Afghanistan Monday, Peter van Uhm, chief of staff of the Dutch army confirmed Monday evening.

Sergeant Major Mark Leijsen, 44, was killed at 2 pm (0930 GMT) when a home-made bomb exploded. Three of his colleagues sustained injuries, but are reportedly stable.

Leijsen is the 21st Dutch soldier to die in Afghanistan since the Netherlands started its participation in NATO's International Security and Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan's Uruzghan region.

On Sunday, 26-year old corporal Kevin van de Rijdt was killed during a firefight in the area of Deh Rawod.

With some 1,200 troops in Afghanistan, the Dutch are a lead nation in the southern Afghan province of Uruzghan. Their mission is due to end in August 2010.  dpa