September 17, 2025 Photo: Depositphotos.com
More than 5,000 people have joined the Netherlands armed forces since the turn of the year, stretching the services’ capacity to train them.
The defence department’s annual assessment, published on budget day, said the rapid expansion had led to a shortage of rifles, vehicles and other training materials.
Most of the new recruits are citizens and reservists, who can be called up if soldiers are needed to fight on the front line in a future war.
Last year the government introduced a non-compulsory military service programme to encourage young people aged 18 to 27 to spend a year in the armed forces and learn skills.
Former soldiers and civilian defence workers have also been encouraged to register as reservists.
Altogether 79,323 people are now on the payroll of the army, navy, air force or military police, including 8,500 reservists.
The number of professional soldiers has increased by 1,270, but the department said it wanted to recruit another 1,000 by the end of the year to stay on track for its long-term target of a 100,000-strong army by 2030.
Armed forces Politics Society
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