If the Netherlands were to have its own tank battalion, it is very unlikely that it would be stationed in Havelte. This is evident from answers to House of Representatives questions. Today the House of Representatives is discussing the Defense budget.
The Netherlands currently does not have its own tanks. Our soldiers are trained on German tanks with our eastern neighbors, with whom we share a tank battalion. This battalion is part of the 43 Mechanized Brigade in Havelte. The German-Dutch tank battalion includes 18 tanks and 350 German soldiers and 100 Dutch soldiers.
Defense considers it ‘essential’ that the armed forces are strengthened due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, write outgoing Minister Kajsa Ollongren and outgoing State Secretary Christophe van der Maat. The Netherlands also needs tanks to meet NATO requirements. So The Hague is looking at setting up its own tank battalion.
“A new tank battalion would mean that the Netherlands adds extra striking power to NATO’s joint combat power.” The minister says that it offers a ‘strength in strength, protection and networked sensors’.
While all heavy combat vehicles in the Netherlands are now stationed in Havelte, it is not self-evident that a new tank battalion will be located in Havelte. Defense prefers a tank battalion in Germany. “The training and shooting areas at the Dutch barracks do not provide enough space to realistically train or shoot with a tank battalion.”
In addition, the minister points out that stationing in Germany does not take up ‘scarce construction, nitrogen and noise space in the Netherlands’ and provides benefits for education and training. “In addition, most infrastructure, such as alloys, teaching and office buildings, logistics warehouses and technical spaces, is already available in Germany.”
If the Ministry of Defense wants to establish a tank battalion, money will first have to be made available. The current budget is still inadequate. According to the minister, no further follow-up steps will be taken at this time. A tank battalion costs between 260 and 315 million euros annually. The outgoing cabinet leaves a decision on a tank battalion to the next cabinet.