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Netherlands Aims to Double Military Reservists Amid European Recruitment Efforts
The Dutch military plans to increase its volunteer reservists from 9,000 to at least 20,000 by 2030 to address emerging threats. Enlistments by Queen Maxima and Princess Amalia have boosted applications, leading to challenges in training and equipment. Similar recruitment drives are occurring in other European countries in response to regional security concerns.
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The Dutch military is seeking to more than double its number of volunteer reservists, aiming to grow from the current 9,000 to at least 20,000 by 2030. This effort is part of a broader plan to increase overall military personnel from 80,000 to 120,000 by 2035.
The initiative has received support across political lines in the Netherlands. Recent enlistments by Queen Maxima and her daughter, Amalia, Princess of Orange, as volunteer reservists have contributed to a surge in applications. State Secretary for Defense Derk Boswijk stated that the military is now facing challenges in providing training, housing, uniforms, and weapons for the new recruits.
He described the situation as a luxury problem due to the high volume of interest.
Boswijk told The Associated Press that the enlistment of royal family members has inspired others to join, referring to it as the Amalia effect. Photos of Queen Maxima in training, including aiming a pistol at a shooting range, have been published globally.
The military has launched recruitment campaigns through newspapers, billboards, and social media to attract volunteers. A corporal in the reserve battalion, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the nature of her service, said priorities have shifted toward infantry skills amid a more volatile global security outlook.
She noted that when she first joined, threats were minimal, but now the focus is on defending the country and mitigating risks. Reservists commit to 300 hours of service annually, including weekend exercises, and are typically assigned to domestic security tasks rather than overseas combat.
