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ANPE An exercise with explosives at the defense area in Groningen
NOS Nieuws•gisteren, 18:39
Defense requires more space and citizens will notice this near the selected locations. This was said by outgoing Defense State Secretary Van der Maat in the House of Representatives. Citizens and municipalities will be involved in the decision-making process as best as possible and will have the opportunity to contribute ideas in the coming weeks.
The defense takes the involvement seriously, says Van der Maat. He is currently traveling around the country to speak with regional and local administrators about the sites the Department of Defense is eyeing. Digital information events will also be organized for citizens and they can submit letters.
“People can come up with ideas for multiple uses of these areas, for example,” says Van der Maat. “In Leeuwarden we are already talking about solar panels on the defense site.” According to him, there is a limit on participation.
“It’s just getting difficult in the Netherlands,” says Van der Maat. “People can understand that our fighter pilots have to work longer hours. But those who live in the northern Netherlands say: do that in the south and vice versa.”
Where does defense want to expand?
In the coming years, billions more euros will flow into defense. Politicians believe this is necessary because the Netherlands, as a NATO country, contributes relatively little and because the international threat, for example from Russia, is increasing.
The National Defense Space Program specifies which activities and locations Defense wants to expand. This applies, for example, to exercises with helicopters and explosives, exercises in populated areas and ammunition depots. The defense also needs nitrogen space to build up.
In addition, each province has its own plan. In Groningen, the shooting range needs to be expanded “for dynamic shooting with vehicles”. In Friesland there will be further exercises over the sea from the Leeuwarden air force base, including with drones.
A majority in the “new” House of Representatives also supports strengthening the defense apparatus and the associated expansions.
“Defense is our shield that makes all our other ambitions possible,” says BBB MP and decorated soldier Gijs Tuinman. “But nature, food production and equestrian sport are also important to us. If we want to include everyone, this process has to go well.”
ANP State Secretary Van der Maat in the House of Representatives
Tuinman is referring to the “equestrian hotspot” near the Limburg village of Ysselsteyn, where Defense plans to reopen De Peel air base. Citizens and nature lovers have already taken up arms. And in Zeewolde in Flevoland, farming families also expressed their concerns about the expansion of defense sites in the region at an information evening.
“It is logical that there are people who are shocked,” says PVV MP Joeri Pool. “But the defense must not be held hostage by nature groups suing because a bird is flying around somewhere.”
Storage of ammunition in a Natura 2000 area is an ideal combination: no one is allowed to stay within a three-kilometer radius.
Christophe van der Maat, State Secretary for Defense
The State Secretary sees this optimistically. Natural and defense areas actually fit together very well, he says. “You could say that every now and then a robust self-propelled howitzer drives through, but otherwise no hikers come. And ammunition storage in a Natura 2000 area is an ideal combination. No one is allowed in there within a radius of 3 to 5 kilometers.”
As far as the House of Representatives is concerned, it is up to the Secretary of State to push through the expansions without too much protest.
Van der Maat doesn’t want to create false expectations in this regard. “It’s not a question of decision making. Ultimately, the military and the politicians in The Hague decide what needs to be done.”
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