The Netherlands has decided to invest capital regarding its contribution to the NATO alliance.

According to the Defense Note 2024, the army will acquire once again battle tanks (for the 1st time a command will be created after 2011, according to NATO requirements), the air force will receive extra F-35s, and the navy can count on extra frigates for anti-submarine warfare along with NH-90 helicopters, among other armaments. 

The military police will also be strengthened, while an additional 260 million will be spent to retain and recruit personnel and expand the voluntary Service Year in parallel. 

Defensie zet volop in op het versterken van onze krijgsmacht om een krachtige afschrikking te kunnen waarborgen. Dit bereiken we door te investeren in innovatie, het werven van nieuw personeel en intensiveren van onze samenwerking met de Nederlandse industrie. 

Benieuwd hoe?

Investments will be made in innovation and the defence industry to stimulate the production of military equipment, domestically developed drones included. These are just a few of the measures from the Defence Memorandum published the other day aiming at the strengthening of the country’s defence capabilities.

For the Defense Note’s implementation, the defence budget increases to around 24 billion euros, which equals to 2% of the gross domestic product. 

Below, you may watch the presentation of the Defense Note 2024.

Also read: Albania | Start of production of the domestic defence industry – Establishment of a state-owned company to strengthen it