Last November, security guards at Drakensteyn Castle—the home of Princess Beatrix in the Utrecht village of Lage Vuursche—spotted drones flying near the estate. Around the same time, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee identified unmanned aircraft near the Dutch Central Bank’s gold vault in Huis ter Heide, situated just a few kilometres away. A spokesperson for the military police force confirmed these reports following an initial article by the newspaper AD.
The operators of the drones remain unidentified, and their motives for the flights are currently unknown. That same weekend, similar sightings were reported at the Eindhoven and Volkel air bases in North Brabant. Regional media also suggested that drones were seen near a major gas distribution station in Overijssel, though the military police have not officially confirmed that specific incident.
The Marechaussee noted that not every reported sighting is a genuine drone. A spokesperson explained that members of the public frequently mistake satellites or high-flying aeroplanes for unmanned craft, leading to a high number of false alarms.
In response to the sightings, Finance Minister Eelco Heinen expressed confidence in the security of the national gold reserves. He pointed out that the vault is located deep underground on a secure military base, making it extremely difficult to access.
However, State Secretary for Defence Derk Boswijk argued that these incidents highlight an urgent need for better investment in anti-drone technology. He confirmed that the parties responsible for the flights have not yet been caught.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
