In a move that reflects increasing military tensions in Europe, Dutch State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman unveiled an ambitious plan to massively expand the country’s military forces. His proposal, which was sent to Parliament on March 24, calls for a dramatic increase in personnel—from the current 76,000 to 100,000 by 2030, with the potential to scale up to 200,000 in a crisis.
This plan aims to create a more flexible and adaptive force, prepared to handle both peacetime challenges and wartime scenarios. Tuinman stressed the need for rapid changes, focusing on swift recruitment and training to ensure the military is ready when called upon.
To meet this goal, the Dutch Ministry of Defence has introduced new measures, such as a “service year” for young recruits, along with a €260 million annual investment for recruitment and training. The plan also includes adjustments to medical and psychological entry requirements to address chronic manpower shortages.
The goal is to create a force that can expand quickly in response to threats like Russia, without relying on conscription. While Tuinman insists the plan won’t return to mandatory military service, he acknowledges that maintaining such a large, flexible force will require significant investment.
This push for military expansion comes amid concerns over the country’s current military readiness. A NATO report from 2024 revealed that the Dutch military would be unable to sustain combat for more than a month, citing shortages of essential equipment and trained personnel.
While some argue that such expansion is necessary in today’s global climate, others question whether the budget and resources are sufficient to achieve these lofty goals. Critics also worry that a continued emphasis on military build-up, especially in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, could escalate tensions further and undermine long-term peace.
It remains to be seen whether these plans will succeed or whether Europe will continue down a dangerous path of rearmament, one that risks drawing the continent deeper into conflicts it can ill afford.
