Balancing defence needs and housing growth: ILT visits Oldebroek to discuss future plans
Residents of Oldebroek may soon see new homes near the Artillery Shooting Range (ASK), as local and national authorities collaborate to balance defence operations with housing development. Key discussions focused on environmental permits and noise management.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Inspector-General | Mattheus Wassenaar (Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate - ILT) |
| Municipality Visited | Oldebroek (Gelderland) |
| Key Stakeholders | Mayor Haseloop, Colonel Rob ten Horn, Lieutenant-Colonel Marco Hoekstra |
| Defence Site | Artillery Shooting Range (ASK) |
| Permits Managed by ILT | ~180 defence sites across the Netherlands |
| Focus of Visit | Revision permit for ASK, housing development within noise contours |
| Previous High-Level Meetings | State Secretary for Defence (Oct 2025), State Secretary for Infrastructure (Jan 2026) |
The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) plays a critical role in regulating defence activities by issuing environmental permits. It ensures that military operations balance national security needs with the protection of local communities and their living environments. The municipality of Oldebroek collaborates with the ILT and Defence to align housing ambitions with defence requirements.
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Inspector-General Mattheus Wassenaar pays working visit to the municipality of Oldebroek
Inspector-General Mattheus Wassenaar of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) paid a working visit to the municipality of Oldebroek on Wednesday, 25 March. During the visit, he spoke with Mayor Haseloop, Colonel Rob ten Horn and Lieutenant-Colonel Marco Hoekstra of the Ministry of Defence about the Artillery Shooting Range (ASK) and the possibilities for future housing development in the area.
The working visit followed from earlier consultations between the municipality and the central government. On 15 January 2026, for example, there was a meeting between Mayor Haseloop and the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management. This visit also builds on the working visit by the then State Secretary for Defence, Gijs Tuinman, on 20 October 2025.
Role of the ILT
The ILT grants permits for environmentally harmful activities by the Ministry of Defence at around 180 sites. When granting permits, the ILT weighs the risks and damage to the living environment against the importance of defence activities.
The ongoing application for the revision permit (environmental permit) of the ASK was the main focus of the visit. The procedure and the view expressed by the municipal executive board in its earlier response to the draft decision were discussed.
Collaboration on housing development
The municipality of Oldebroek also presented its plan to work with the Ministry of Defence and the Central Government Real Estate Agency to develop a joint system for a new environmental plan. The aim is to enable housing development within the noise contours of the defence site, with clear agreements on the values that apply in this context.
Although the ILT is not involved in the development of the housing plans, the visit was valuable according to Mayor Haseloop: “It is important that we continue to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders about the challenges facing our area. This visit helps us to jointly look for solutions that provide space for both defence and the development of our municipality.”