This is apparent from an inventory by the research editors of RTL Nieuws.

Shocking

It shows that Defense is having great difficulty getting the organization in order quickly. Even if money is available to replace a part repair, it doesn’t mean that it can be made quickly.

“That is very shocking. We have simply neglected the security of the Netherlands for the past thirty years,” says Jean Debie, chairman of the military union VBM.

Replacement of equipment is difficult

One project after another is delayed. For example, the intention was to replace the 60 and 81 mm mortars between 2017 and 2020. They were only ordered in 2021 and due to the long production time they can only be used in 2023. A mortar is an artillery weapon that consists of a tube where a piece of ammunition is fired over a distance of several kilometers.

Not fast on the Eastern border:

If we now quickly send the new Scania trucks and tanks to Poland, it would not be possible by rail. The low-loaders we need are still being made and the first ones will be delivered later this year. And there are still too few. We have ordered seventy, but need 200.

Barracks severely neglected:

The barracks are neglected and need to be refurbished to the present time. There is advice that defense should divest 35 to 40 percent of the real estate portfolio in order to be able to refurbish the rest of the buildings. In recent years, the money has mainly been used to resolve malfunctions and acute problems. Defense has 11,000 buildings

Ammunition Shortage:

We are running out of ammunition to defend our country and that of our allies. In addition, a number of ammunition prices and a lot of ammunition still needs to be replaced, including it will take years before this is in order.

Field Hospitals:

Defense has two hospitals with limited field capacity. The Mobile Medical Operating Room System was decommissioned in 2015. The system had reached the end of its life and there was no money to replace it. The first of three new field hospitals will arrive in 2025.

More than half of equipment cannot be used

The Dutch have enough, there are not enough personnel stocks and only half of the equipment is available. As a result, defense is unable to carry out its most important main task, the protection of its own territory. That is what the Minister of Defense has informed the House of Representatives.

That is why the new cabinet said at the start that there will be more money for Defense in the coming years. The four years this will be an average of 2 billion, from 2025 that should be 3 billion a year. However, that is not nearly enough.

Because to meet the NATO standard, whereby we spend 2 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, we would have to spend 5 billion extra a year instead of 3 billion.

“And if you want a tangible, terrifying military force, you need a lot more money,” says Jean Debie. “Then 5 billion, which is needed to meet the NATO standard, is not enough. Then you have to think of 10 billion euros extra per year.”

Rich Netherlands dangles at the back

Of all thirty NATO countries, the Netherlands is in twentieth place when it comes to defense expenditure measured by GDP, which is the money that the Netherlands earns.

Tender

One of the reasons why it is not possible to complete projects quickly is the tendering rules. In a number of cases there have been lawsuits from parties who believe that they have been disadvantaged in a tender.

That includes in the purchase of new uniforms to a delay and even to the decision to go for an ‘interim clothing package’ in advance of the new uniform. That interim package also came later than expected due to delivery problems.

In addition, the purchase of military equipment such as submarines, combat aircraft such as the F-35 and frigates involves very long routes. “Those are not sandwiches that you get at the bakery,” says Frans Osinga special war studies.

Short of staff

Another major problem for Defense is the shortage of personnel. There are over 8,600 military job openings out of a total of 41,000 military positions. Moreover, the outflow is higher than the inflow, so that the deficit is only increasing.

Due to the shortage of naval vessels, naval vessels are forced to stay in the port and maintenance of equipment cannot be carried out. The latter means that it is not possible to carry out with that equipment and that the readiness of the Dutch weather deteriorates further.

Built according to experts who have somewhat made up for the biggest backlogs in supplies, equipment and sufficiently trained soldiers.

“A repair battle has been started from 2018 and that will take even longer,” says professor Frans Osinga. “Various European countries have also been shaken awake and everyone now wants to purchase military equipment and that means that we have to follow suit.”