The agreement is with regional government officials. The growth task of Defence also contributes to employment, good accessibility of the area, and energy sustainability.
How do you provide balanced space for nature, housing, water, recreation, and Defence in this busy part of the Netherlands? To arrive at a good solution for all these spatial challenges, 8 government parties worked closely together. Now there is a plan with clear ambitions, principles, and choices for the coming years.
Multiple Defense Locations
There are multiple defense locations in the area. Think of the various barracks around Soesterberg, the Leusderheide and Vlasakkers training grounds, the Bernhard Barracks, Camp New Amsterdam, and the Technology Center Land.
The area is of strategic importance for the defense of the Netherlands. Defence must keep the Netherlands safe in a rapidly changing world. According to State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman, this requires space, speed, and cooperation. “The Utrechtse Heuvelrug is one of the first regions where Defence collaborates on an area-based scale. Todays signing strengthens our national security in conjunction with nature, water management, and living environment.”
From Havelte to Soesterberg
The first units of the 45th Armored Infantry Battalion will already move this summer from Havelte to Soesterberg. This happens in anticipation of further growth of operational units at the newly developed Soesterberg military base. The agreements are based on the so-called Area Perspective from Amersfoort to Zeist. It is not only about the redevelopment of defense sites. In addition, the partners on the Heuvelrug are working on measures for water infiltration, nature enhancement, managing recreation, and mobility.