The Netherlands is taking an important step towards defending NATO’s eastern flank and increasing its independence in military logistics. This step includes expanding its fleet of railway wagons that will transport tanks and armoured vehicles, as well as armoured vehicles and supplies to Europe. With the investments it has made in this area, the Dutch Ministry of Defence is strengthening its military transport capacity in Europe and aims to increase NATO’s ability to move quickly.
New Wagon Purchases and Fleet Expansion
The Dutch Ministry of Defence has increased its fleet by 75% by purchasing 20 new wagons in December and January. Colonel Merlijn Heiligers, Commander of the Defence Mobility and Transport Organisation (DVVO), said that this expansion reduces the Netherlands’ dependence on commercial suppliers and shortens the deployment times of military units. This change is particularly important in order to meet the need for sudden deployment and rapid movement. “Sudden deployment is not something that is planned, it always happens unexpectedly, so you need some kind of minimum capacity to be able to mobilise,” Heiligers said, emphasising the importance of this strategic investment.
NATO's Need to Act Quickly
NATO began to place greater emphasis on the ability to move quickly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In this context, the role of the railway in military logistics has once again come to the fore. However, the decline of military railway infrastructure and increasing demand after the Cold War have made it difficult for European armies to provide wagons. In response to these difficulties, the Netherlands is trying to gain independence by strengthening its own fleet.
“We want to be less dependent on the market and provide these capacities partly ourselves,” Heiligers said, underlining the Netherlands’ long-term strategy to increase its military logistics capacity. This is just one of the measures the Netherlands is taking to provide critical logistics support within NATO.
The Netherlands' Military Rail Logistics Capability
The Netherlands has become a major player in military rail transport. Along with France and Germany, it is one of the few countries with a large fleet of railcars. According to the Ministry of Defence, the newly acquired railcars of the Netherlands have a unique capability among European armies. Manufactured by Greenbrier Europe, these railcars stand out particularly for their special 60-foot container carriers. At the same time, the Dutch Armed Forces are known to be the only country in Europe with low-loader railcars for wheeled vehicle transport.
Future Plans and Other Countries
The Netherlands is strengthening its rail transport not only to meet current needs but also for future geopolitical requirements. According to the ministry, some smaller EU countries are also considering purchasing railcars, which could reinforce the Netherlands' leadership in military logistics.
As a result, the expansion of the Dutch military rail fleet increases NATO's ability to move quickly while also enabling the Netherlands to strengthen its own independent logistics capacity. This strategic move is an important step not only for the Netherlands but also for NATO's overall military logistics capacity.
