Dutch lawmakers debate possible return of military conscription
Lawmakers in the Tweede Kamer are reconsidering military conscription as the Dutch armed forces struggle with personnel shortages. Political parties are divided on the issue, with some looking to Sweden’s selective draft system as a potential model.
CDA lawmaker Derk Boswijk, a longtime advocate for reintroducing conscription, believes action is necessary. “It’s inevitable,” he said. “And no, it won’t be arranged in five or six years. But we have to start somewhere.”
Currently, the Dutch military operates a voluntary service year, allowing young people to serve in the navy, army, air force, or military police. A majority in the Tweede Kamer supports expanding recruitment efforts, citing growing security threats. “In these times, we cannot rule anything out,” said NSC lawmaker Olger van Dijk. “Not even reinstating conscription. Most of us have never known anything but a safe world. But safety isn’t guaranteed. And it isn’t free.”
Since 1996, military conscription has been inactive, though all 17-year-olds receive letters informing them of their registration. Reinstating the draft would reportedly require significant investments in training, facilities, uniforms, and weapons.
Several parties suggest following Sweden’s approach, where all young people undergo a military assessment, but only a fraction are ultimately selected. “Nobody is saying this has to happen tomorrow,” Van Dijk said. “But we should take the first step.”
The VVD supports a mandatory survey for 18-year-olds, where those who refuse to participate would face fines. “This would help us establish a baseline,” said VVD lawmaker Christianne van der Wal. “If more soldiers are needed in the future, we’ll know who to approach.” However, a legally binding survey is not currently allowed under Dutch law, according to Defense Secretary Gijs Tuinman. Instead, a voluntary version will be introduced for people aged 18 to 27 later this year.
Most lawmakers argue that voluntary recruitment remains sufficient. “Parents are worried their children will be forced into military service,” Van der Wal said. “But as long as we can attract enough volunteers, there’s no need for conscription.”
The PVV has yet to take a position on conscription, while GroenLinks-PvdA opposes it. “The world is changing fast, so I understand why people are asking these questions,” said lawmaker Jimme Nordkamp. “But forcing people into service isn’t effective. We need motivated recruits, not mandatory enlistment.”
CDA’s Boswijk sees the current voluntary service year as a step toward a broader national service requirement. “This would also help build social cohesion among young people,” he said. He proposed expanding service options to firefighting and healthcare, with government job incentives for participants.
Boswijk also dismissed concerns that conscripts could be deployed to war zones. “Conscripts cannot be sent on missions against their will,” he said. “But they could take over domestic duties, freeing up professional soldiers for international operations.”
The Dutch military has long faced personnel and equipment shortages. “First, we lacked funding, but that’s been addressed,” Boswijk said. “Now, we need to fix the shortages in equipment and manpower. We simply need more people.”
