The Dutch railway network is not ready to transport military equipment smoothly to the front line in wartime, the cabinet has acknowledged. Researchers commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management found that military transport is currently arranged on an ad hoc basis during peacetime. To handle larger volumes and urgent movements, the government must put in place established procedures and fixed agreements. State Secretary for Infrastructure Annet Bertram and State Secretary for Defence Derk Boswijk both endorsed the findings.
The Netherlands plays a critical role in transporting personnel and equipment for allies, including American troops, from the ports of Rotterdam and Vlissingen towards Eastern Europe. Researchers from the HCSS think tank noted that while routine peacetime movements run smoothly, this provides no guarantee during a crisis. If operations need to scale up rapidly, pressure on rail infrastructure and administrative personnel would quickly become overwhelming. The report recommends standardising and streamlining military rail transport.
Bertram stated that she will incorporate the recommendations into updated plans for military mobility, which she expects to present early next year. The State Secretary has been working on priority access for urgent military trains on the rail network, with legislation scheduled for submission to the House of Representatives later this year.
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