November 7, 2025 Military training at the base. Photo: Ministry of Defence
The Dutch military police are investigating a possible drone sighting over the Gilze-Rijen airbase after air traffic controllers spotted an unidentified object flying near the control tower on Wednesday, the Volkskrant reported on Friday.
The incident has renewed concern about mysterious drone activity across Europe, which several governments suspect may be linked to Russia.
Marechaussee units were sent to the Brabant airbase after the report was classified as a potential espionage attempt, but the drone had already disappeared. “The flight safety of the base was at risk,” a spokesperson told the paper, adding that the object’s origin remains unknown.
The Dutch defence ministry said there are currently “no signals or indications of Russian activity in Dutch airspace”, but confirmed that similar reports had been investigated near Volkel airbase and the port of Vlissingen in recent months. None led to criminal investigations.
Patrick Bolder, a defence analyst at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, warned that identifying drones is complex and prone to false alarms.
“We must avoid hysteria,” he said, “but we also can’t dismiss the threat. Drones are hard to detect, and only a few radar systems in the Netherlands can distinguish them from aircraft or birds.”
The Netherlands has ordered new Israeli-made drone defence systems to protect military sites and naval bases but none are yet fully operational, the Volkskrant said.
The incident is the latest in a series of unexplained sightings near airports and sensitive sites in Western Europe. Flights were briefly halted this week at Brussels Airport after a large drone approached the control tower, while similar incidents have been reported near Danish and German military bases.
Experts say even unverified sightings can serve Russia’s interests by spreading confusion and fear.
“These drones fit into a broader hybrid strategy,” said Bolder. “They send a message: don’t think you’re safe as long as you support Ukraine.”
Armed forces Drones Europe
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