The military conscription applies to everyone between the ages of 17 and 45. Since May 1, 1997, the call-up obligation has been suspended. Conscripts are therefore no longer summoned. In exceptional situations, the government can still decide to do so. For example, if a war breaks out.
The letter contains the military registration number and further explanation about conscription.
Service Year
The youth are also alerted in the letter about the Service Year at Defence. This is different from conscription. Young people choose this voluntarily. They become military for a year. Even if they already have work experience, they are welcome for a Service Year. They receive training, a workplace, and a salary. During that year, the youth learn a lot. Moreover, they contribute to a strong armed forces. In this way, they contribute to the safety of all Dutch citizens. Afterward, it is possible to continue working at Defence as a professional soldier, civilian employee, or reservist.
To further increase the voluntary intake of soldiers, Defence will conduct a survey among this group next year. This will be announced in the conscription letter. The goal is to gauge whether the youth are interested in working for Defence.