On May 23, 2025, the cabinet announced where the defense will expand. We see that the local effects have been well taken into account. The expansion at barracks offers opportunities for our companies. However, we have questions about the plans for the Deelen airbase and Lelystad airport.
Published on: May 23, 2025

Discussions with Province and Municipalities 

Due to international developments, the defense needs more space for its activities. We facilitate the defense in this. In the past 1.5 years, officials and administrators from the province, Gelderland municipalities, and defense have had many discussions about possible locations for defense activities.  

We are very satisfied with this cooperation. At our request, the defense also spoke with all involved municipalities. After that, the defense also spoke with municipalities in other provinces.  

The local effects have been taken into account

Because the defense was directly at the table with various municipalities, we could precisely take the local effects into account in the plans of the defense – for example, on housing plans, noise nuisance, traffic, the local economy, and public sentiment. As a result, most of the defenses choices can now count on local support.

Peter Drenth

Deputy

Rozendaal Field 

In addition, we are pleased to see that a site for exercises with explosives in the nature reserve near Rozendaal will not be established. The defense rightly chooses for the public interest and vulnerable nature. This means that the armed forces must look abroad for this. Earlier, the defense already announced that there will be no munitions depot in Gelderland. 

Expansion of Barracks 

The defense is expanding many of its activities at existing barracks. We see opportunities for more employment and sustainability. We ask the Ministry of Defense to involve Gelderland companies in this. 

The cabinet also decides on a future central barracks in Zeewolde, Flevoland. Such a large barracks in Zeewolde will lead to more traffic of people and equipment over the already overloaded A1/A28, the Nijkerkerbrug, and other roads in Gelderland. This means that major adjustments to the road network are necessary. The cabinet is paying attention to this and is going to discuss so-called flow measures with the province of Flevoland and us. We find it positive that the defense will first strengthen the existing Gelderland barracks in Ermelo and Stroe. 

Deelen Airbase 

We will have to deal with more air transport in Gelderland. An unpaved runway will be established at military airport Deelen. Heavy transport aircraft will land and take off here. To minimize noise nuisance as much as possible, we have agreed with the defense that the number of flights by the defense will be limited to once every three days. In addition, we continue to request attention for the total effects of military activities around Deelen on vulnerable nature and residents.  

Drone Center 

More helicopter landings will take place at Deelen. Cargo drones will also take off and land in Deelen. These are large drones that transport materials. The defense and we see opportunities for a Gelderland drone center, with innovation and knowledge of specialized drones. 

Low Flying from Lelystad 

Additionally, Gelderland residents will see and hear low-flying helicopters more often. We think it is wise that the cabinet chooses to spread low-flying across the Netherlands. This minimizes the inconvenience for everyone as much as possible.  

The cabinet has not yet made a decision about commercial flights from Lelystad Airport. The Provincial States have concerns about a possible link between civilian and military aviation from Lelystad. GS do not want low-flying commercial aircraft over Gelderland, but have not yet received hard guarantees from the government on this. We have concerns about the link between civil aviation and military aviation from Lelystad Airport. We do not want commercial, low-flying aircraft over Gelderland. But we have not yet received firm promises from the government on this.