The Dutch Ministry of Defence and industrial group VDL have agreed to establish defence companies in the former VDL Nedcar car factory in Born, Limburg, just across the border from the Netherlands.
Several companies are expected to operate in the vast production facility, including those manufacturing military drones and vehicles. The Ministry of Defence will cover part of the costs, such as rent. “This will be a flagship of the renewed co-operation between Defence and businesses,” said the ministry.
Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans stated that the collaboration will create additional military production capacity in the Netherlands, reducing dependence on countries outside Europe. He emphasised the importance of investing in the European and national defence industries.
VDL Nedcar produced Minis for car manufacturer BMW in recent years, with the last car rolling off the production line early last year. The closure resulted in over four thousand job losses, and the factory had been producing cars in Born since 1967.
A spokesperson for VDL stated that the number of workers needed for the new production is not yet known. “We will recruit as necessary,” he said.
Defence spending in Europe has significantly increased since Russia’s attack on neighbouring Ukraine three years ago. The war highlighted the small size of Europe’s arms industry and the heavy reliance on foreign producers.
The urgency to strengthen the European defence industry grew further with Donald Trump’s presidency in the United States. Trump has insisted that Europe should take responsibility for its own security and has threatened not to assist NATO countries that fail to spend adequately on defence.
The European Commission recently announced plans to allocate 800 billion euros over the next four years to bolster defence capabilities.
