Military Bases in Netherlands
Prep for your move to Netherlands with this guide.
Air Force Bases
Volkel Air Base
Located in Volkel, Netherlands
Volkel Air Base in Volkel, Netherlands, is a key installation for the Royal Netherlands Air Force and supports NATO operations. The base is renowned for its F-16 fighter squadrons and is rumored to host a U.S. nuclear weapons site.
Army Bases
JFC Brunssum
Located in Brunssum, Netherlands
JFC Brunssum sits in Brunssum, Netherlands, serving as a key NATO command hub for Northern Europe. The base is home to multinational staff and supports critical NATO operations, with on-base amenities and access to international schools.
Netherlands’ NATO Defense Anchors
For U.S. military members and families on PCS or TDY to the Netherlands, Volkel Air Base near Uden and Joint Force Command Brunssum in Brunssum are key installations, supporting NATO air defense and operational command. Volkel hosts U.S. Air Force personnel for F-35 operations, while JFC Brunssum, a NATO headquarters, coordinates regional defense with U.S. Army support. This guide to military bases in Netherlands offers insights into their roles, historical significance, economic impact, and community support, ensuring a rewarding assignment in this NATO ally.
Historical Foundations
The Netherlands’ military bases emerged during WWII and the Cold War. Volkel Air Base, established in 1940 as a Luftwaffe diversion airfield, became Fliegerhorst Volkel in 1943, hosting German Me 262 jets. Liberated in 1944, it was used by the Royal Air Force before the Royal Netherlands Air Force took control in 1950, transitioning from Gloster Meteors to F-16s and now F-35s. Joint Force Command Brunssum traces its roots to 1953 as Headquarters, Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT) in Fontainebleau, France, moving to Brunssum in 1967 after France’s NATO withdrawal. Renamed JFC Brunssum in 2004, it has coordinated NATO operations since. These bases reflect the Netherlands’ strategic NATO role.
Economic Impact
New Jersey’s bases contribute over $9 billion annually, employing 50,000 personnel. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, spanning 42,000 acres, generates $7 billion and 44,000 jobs across Burlington and Ocean Counties, supporting Wrightstown and Manchester Township. Naval Weapons Station Earle employs 2,000, adding $1 billion to Colts Neck’s economy with its 3-mile pier. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May sustains 1,500 jobs and $300 million in Cape May County. Families access 2,000 housing units, DoDDS schools (e.g., Manchester Township Schools, Cape May City Schools), and TRICARE clinics. MWR programs, like 2025 JB MDL air shows and Cape May’s beach events, enrich community life.
Key Military Facilities
Volkel Air Base (Uden): Hosts the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s 312 and 313 Squadrons with F-35 Lightning IIs and the U.S. Air Force’s 703rd Munitions Support Squadron, supporting 3,000 personnel for air defense and NATO missions.
Joint Force Command Brunssum (Brunssum): A NATO operational headquarters with 1,800 personnel, including U.S. Army support, coordinating defense for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary.
Leeuwarden Air Base (Leeuwarden): RNLAF base with F-35 squadrons, hosting U.S. personnel for joint NATO air policing and training.
USAG Benelux-Brunssum (Brunssum): U.S. Army garrison supporting JFC Brunssum’s NATO community with 500 personnel, providing base operations and family services.
Strategic Importance
The Netherlands’ bases are linchpins for NATO’s European defense. Volkel Air Base’s F-35 squadrons, supported by the U.S. 703rd Munitions Support Squadron, conduct 2,000 annual sorties for air defense and NATO’s Quick Reaction Alert, monitoring Benelux airspace since 2017. In 2024, Volkel established a new Air Combat Command, enhancing F-35 mission readiness. JFC Brunssum, as a NATO Joint Force Command, oversees operations across eight countries, coordinating 2025 multinational exercises and NATO Force Integration Units for rapid deployment. USAG Benelux-Brunssum supports JFC Brunssum’s logistics, while Leeuwarden Air Base complements Volkel with joint U.S.-Dutch air policing. These bases ensure NATO’s eastern flank security despite unconfirmed 2024 drone reports near Volkel.
Notable Distinctions
Volkel Air Base, spanning 9,900-foot runways, is one of two Dutch F-35 bases, hosting the RNLAF’s photographic reconnaissance expertise and U.S.-maintained B61 nuclear munitions. Joint Force Command Brunssum, at Hendrik Camp, is one of three NATO operational headquarters, managing eight NATO Force Integration Units. The bases offer 1,000 housing units, access to international schools (e.g., AFNORTH International School near Brunssum), and MWR events like Uden’s 2025 air shows and Brunssum’s Limburg cultural festivals, fostering vibrant communities in the Netherlands’ scenic regions.
U.S. service members on PCS to Netherlands or TDY in Netherlands will find mission-critical roles and welcoming communities at Volkel Air Base and Joint Force Command Brunssum. From Uden’s historic villages to Brunssum’s proximity to Maastricht’s cultural gems, the Netherlands’ bases provide robust support, quality education, and unforgettable experiences for military families.