Dutch Armed Forces open new operational headquarters to improve coordination

The Dutch Armed Forces will open a new operational headquarters on Thursday, from which all defense units will be better coordinated. The Netherlands Joint Force Command will initially be housed in the Ministry of Defence but will eventually move to its own location. This was announced to AD by Chief of Defence Onno Eichelsheim and Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.

According to the general, the situation at Defense was much more fragmented in the past. “Now we have to be prepared for the possibility of a prolonged conflict. This new headquarters is far better equipped for that,” Eichelsheim told AD.

According to Brekelmans, everything will come together there: “so that also includes situations where Defense assists with fighting a wildfire or responding to another disaster.”

Around 300 people will work at the headquarters. Eichelsheim told the newspaper that “for this first step,” a budget of 8 million euros per year has been allocated, “most of which will go toward IT connections.”

Brekelmans also stated that the new headquarters can be seen as a signal to Russia. “Whether it’s a hybrid threat, espionage, or a sabotage operation in the North Sea, we use all the information we have and bring it together in one place to coordinate everything effectively. Having that well-organized also sends a signal. We are not easily hit or disrupted.”

The Joint Force Command will work closely with NATO headquarters in Brunssum, one of NATO’s three operational headquarters.