The state of the Dutch armed forces is extremely worrying, according to advisory council on international affairs AIV in an advice report to the cabinet titled 'Russia and the Dutch defense efforts'. According to the report, the "employability of the armed forces was further undermined this government term" and if the policy is not changed, the basic readiness of the army will only be back in order in 2021, NU.nl reports.

Military union VBM is furious about the Ministry of Defense's procurement policy, which resulted in too few helmets being ordered for the new combat uniforms. This means that 18 thousand will have to borrow someone else's helmet when training or if they're sent on a mission on short notice

The ruling coalition of VVD and PvdA reached an agreement on spending 1.2 billion euros next year on reversing scheduled cuts. The PvdA negotiated for reversing a cutback back on elderly- and disabled care and pushing money into education. The VVD fought for spending money on security by filling holes in the Defense and Security and Justice budgets

Police in the U.K. are looking for two men accused of threatening underage Army cadets outside a reserve base in Gateshead, England, Northumbria police said in a statement on Friday. The threats, including those of beheading, were shouted from a car apparently with Dutch license plates, local newspaper Chronicle reported.

Opposition members of parliament say they are concerned with the current state of security measures in the Netherlands. They want the government to prevent attacks similar to those in and around Paris this week, and to raise the readiness of the security forces. The Anti-Islam PVV party says they even want to deploy the army as part of a plan to beef up domestic secur

An reserve officer of the Netherlands military intelligence service reportedly spread confidential material to his civilian employer, ICT company Ordina, from Uruzgan province in Afghanistan in 2009. Television program Zembla reports this on the basis of e-mails obtained.

In a surprise decision by the Concil of Ministers, the Netherlands has committed military personnel to the international fight against Islamic State (ISIS). In a press conference early Wednesday evening, Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher and Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis announced that the Netherlands will deploy six F-16s for air strikes only in Iraq, another two F-16s to be used as backups, in addition to sending a military defence team of 250 soldiers. The Netherlands will not take part in military missions in Syria.

The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised all Dutch citizens in Libya to leave the country after clashes between the army and Islamic fighters are escalating. Traveling to Libya is also discouraged, including layovers.

The remains of two soldiers from the Second World War have been found in the Overdiepse Polder on the Maas river in Brabant. The Salvave and Identification service from the Army has announced this today. The bodies were dug up on Friday.

The Cyber Defense Expertise Center officially opened today. Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mart de Kruif officiated the ceremonies on the Bernhard barracks in Amersfoort. This opening is the first step towards the Cyber Defense Commando, which still has to be created.

The union for militaries, AFMP, wants independent parties to supervise self-defense training to make sure lines aren't crossed. The union also wants to instate clear rules, procedures and responsibilities, the Telegraaf reports.