The Ministry of Defense only envisages multifunctional use of the De Haar training ground if it is the owner of the land itself. This is what outgoing State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman (BBB) said this morning on Radio Drenthe.
Defense wants to expand the De Haar military training area near Laaghalen, which currently covers approximately 400 hectares, to 700 hectares. According to Tuinman, this expansion is necessary to allow Defense to grow into a ‘war organization’.
The land is now used, among other things, as agricultural land by farmers from the area. They must be bought out by Defense if it continues with its plans. That is why some farmers came up with a counter-proposal: multifunctional use of the land. Tuinman said in the House of Representatives committee that he would be interested in this and that he wanted to investigate it as a test for the Netherlands.
The right of ownership of the land is the hot topic. While farmers in the area would like to retain ownership of the land and rent it out to Defense for exercises, Tuinman only sees this happening the other way around. “We need that land, so Defense will take over that land,” he says. “We are now in good discussions with the House of Representatives, agricultural associations and stakeholders to look at how you can make the best possible hybrid use of the land that we are taking over.”
Albert Piel, one of the farmers in danger of being bought out, previously started a petition together with his neighbors to put the idea of multifunctional use on the table. Making better use of De Haar could ensure that he can keep his business, where his family would otherwise lose it.
“But what the State Secretary is saying now is not possible,” he responds. “This is one no go. We are giving Defense the space to expand and they will use our land for this tomorrow. But we do not give Defense permission to take our property.”
He points to the agricultural company whose land Defense wants. “Suppose Defense becomes the owner of the land, then my son will have a building but no land.” According to Piel, a farmer is nothing without his own land.
Previously, other residents also reacted with reservation and skepticism to the State Secretary’s commitments. Some spoke of “false hope”.
In December, Defense will provide a response to all views submitted by residents. It will then also become clear whether any adjustments will be made to the plans. The ministry recently extended the deadline and requested a postponement.