Defense will expand the De Haar military training area near Assen by acquiring 292 hectares of land. In the village hall of Hooghalen, all affected farmers and other directly involved people were briefed yesterday afternoon by Defense and the municipality of Midden-Drenthe.
There were many emotions at the two meetings, including sadness and anger. “I think that is right,” says Egge Jan de Jonge, Defense environment manager. “We visit these people in their backyards, even in their living rooms. For the people who lose their land, it is a process that has been going on for much longer, but which is now becoming more clear.”
De Jonge says that there is also understanding: “But it just has a lot of impact on people.”
When the plans were first presented in May, many objections were submitted by farmers and other directly involved parties. People had therefore counted on possible adjustments and hoped that they would be allowed to stay or keep their land.
But during the meetings it became clear that their previously submitted views do not yet lead to an adjustment in the plan. De Jonge explains that Defense does have answers to the objections, but that they do not yet lead to an adjustment.
“We will further shape this together in the area process,” he says. The area process is often referred to. This will include looking at recreational shared use, removing fences and what is possible.
“We are going to make agreements about this with those involved, but within certain frameworks,” says De Jonge. “Ultimately, our units need to be able to practice more. More people will be bothered by soldiers, that is the case throughout the Netherlands.”
There was also a lot of dissatisfaction among people at the meetings about the plans for a pilot to look at shared use of the land. A pilot on which local residents had hoped, but now they are wondering whether it still makes sense to implement it.
“We have been instructed by the House to look at possibilities for agricultural shared use of military training grounds,” says De Jonge. “So no military shared use of agricultural land.”
He thinks there was confusion about that. “People thought it was about military personnel being able to use their plot of land. But the State Secretary emphatically said that Defense is the owner of the land on which agricultural activity can take place. And that is indeed of no use to you as a dairy farmer.”
This arrangement was chosen because Defense needs to enlarge the training area, and not in the space around the area. In military terms this is also called ‘the strip’. This can be done quickly because there is less paperwork involved, says De Jonge.
“We just need to have a larger area where we can practice, without having to fill out a lot of paper. Otherwise you have a lot of work before you can practice. We don’t have that time to properly prepare our units.”
He explains that in the Netherlands you have to comply with many rules if you want to practice in the strip. De Jonge: “That’s why owning your own area where you can practice is the quick solution.”
Before the expansion plans can be realized, a lot still needs to be done, says the environmental manager. “It will not be completed until between 2030 and 2035. We will still be working together for a long time, but we will now first start with the area process.”
Defense will take the next six months to think about land acquisition and spatial planning, so that they can provide more clarity about the plan next summer. “We will in any case make agreements about the area process in the second quarter of next year.”
By engaging independent appraisers and stewards, Defense wants to ensure that compensation for those affected is properly arranged. De Jonge: “From uncertainty to a future perspective with tailor-made solutions. Full compensation, doing what they want to do in a new place.”
Defense has already purchased land for this purpose, including in the De Haar area. “The people themselves must indicate what they want, where their needs lie. We have purchased enough land to accommodate a number of farmers.”