Military exercise Orange Bull brings low-flying Hercules aircraft to Northern Netherlands
Residents of Groningen and Friesland may experience noise from low-flying C-130 Hercules aircraft between March 23 and April 5. The military exercise Orange Bull includes tactical landings and airdrops, with flights scheduled during weekdays and evenings. Report any disturbances via the Defence website.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Exercise Name | Orange Bull |
| Organizer | Air Mobility Command, Royal Netherlands Air Force |
| Duration | March 23 – April 5, 2026 |
| Aircraft | C-130 Hercules transport aircraft |
| Training Activities | Tactical landings, cargo and paratrooper airdrops |
| Flight Times (Weekdays) | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Flight Times (Fridays) | 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Affected Areas | Groningen, Friesland (Netherlands), Belgium |
| Bases Used | Eindhoven Air Base, Twente Airport |
| Noise Complaints | www.luchtmacht.nl/geluidshinder |
| Flight Movement Info | www.luchtmacht.nl/vliegbewegingen |
The Air Mobility Command of the Royal Netherlands Air Force is responsible for conducting military air transport operations, including training exercises like Orange Bull. These exercises ensure readiness for national and international missions, such as humanitarian aid or military deployments.
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Read the full translated article below
Exercise Orange Bull: Military flight movements over Northern Netherlands
From Monday, March 23 to Friday, April 5, 2026, the military exercise Orange Bull will take place. This exercise is conducted by the Air Mobility Command of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
During the exercise, crews of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft will train in tactical landings and the airdropping of cargo and paratroopers. The flights will take place over parts of Groningen, Friesland, and Belgium. The aircraft will operate from Eindhoven Air Base and will also use Twente Airport. Cooperation will take place with various components of the Ministry of Defence, including the 11 Airmobile Brigade, the Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces, and the Netherlands Marine Corps.
The training flights will take place on weekdays between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM, and between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM. On Fridays, flights will occur between 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM, and between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The exact locations and times of the exercises will not be announced in advance. This depends, among other things, on weather conditions.
The Ministry of Defence prepares such exercises carefully. Nevertheless, there may be instances of (noise) nuisance. Reports about this can be submitted via www.luchtmacht.nl/geluidshinder. More information about flight movements can be found at www.luchtmacht.nl/vliegbewegingen. .