For the Province of Groningen, there are three activities involved: 

  • an amphibious training area
  • the shooting range for dynamic shooting with vehicles
  • a helicopter landing site

Amphibious Training Area

Marnehuizen in the Marnewaard (municipality of Het Hogeland) has been definitively designated as one of the four locations for amphibious training areas. By spreading training over four locations, the disturbance to the environment per location is reduced.

Shooting Range

The Marnewaard shooting range has been designated as a location for driving and shooting from vehicles (dynamic shooting). No expansion of the terrain is needed for this. The existing shooting range is used more frequently. This does cause more noise disturbance for residents in Zoutkamp and the villages around the Lauwersmeer. The effects of this have therefore been studied. The research shows that the more intensive use of the shooting range does not lead to significant effects on the environment, the Natura 2000 areas, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Helicopter Landing Site

The Marnewaard is also one of the 32 military training grounds where helicopters can land flexibly. More training is done on the existing helicopter landing sites. This means that residents hear helicopters passing by more often. As with all exercises, Defense informs the environment about this as early as possible. 

National Program Space for Defense

In 2023, Defense started the National Program Space for Defense (NPRD). This program seeks physical and environmental space within the Netherlands for 57 needs. More space is necessary because the security situation in the world is rapidly deteriorating. Defense is therefore being expanded, with equipment, terrains, weapons, and personnel. This also increases the need for space to educate, exercise, and train, both abroad and in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is a relatively densely populated country. This means that training is more often conducted in built-up areas. Defense tries to inform the environment about this as early as possible. It works closely with municipalities, the province, and other parties.

What’s next? 

The next step is preparations for the realization of all the different projects. Defense aims to realize all projects between now and 2040. More information about the National Program Space for Defense can be found at www.defensiedichtbij.nl/ruimtevoordefensie.

(Image: Defense)