Belgium plans to follow the Netherlands’ lead by introducing voluntary military service in an effort to significantly boost the number of military reservists.
According to Defense Minister Theo Francken, 18-year-old Belgians will begin receiving letters by the end of this year, inviting them to join the armed forces on a voluntary basis.
Currently, the official cap on reservists in Belgium is set at 6,000, but the actual number already exceeds that, standing at around 6,600. Francken aims to increase the number of reservists to 20,000 by 2029, starting with 500 new volunteers in 2026 and adding 1,000 annually from 2027 onward.
Under the proposed plan, volunteers will serve for one year and receive a monthly salary of approximately €2,000 — the standard pay for an entry-level soldier. After completing their service, participants will remain in the reserve forces for a period of 10 years.
The initiative is inspired by the Swedish model, which has already been adopted in the Netherlands. There, 17-year-olds are encouraged to complete a questionnaire assessing their motivation and interest in military service. While currently voluntary, this process may become mandatory in the future.
The Netherlands has also launched a “year of service” program, allowing young people aged 18 to 27 to explore a military career for one year. According to military officials, this approach helps lower the psychological barrier to joining the armed forces and gives young people an opportunity to “try on” military life before committing to a longer-term career.
