Unidentified Drones Cause Alarm Near Dutch Military Base

Sun Nov 23 2025 07:08:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Drones spotted over Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands prompt military response and raise security concerns amidst rising sightings across Europe.

Unidentified drones were observed hovering over Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands, prompting military personnel to attempt to intercept them. The drones departed without being recovered, sparking investigations by Dutch police. This incident adds to a concerning pattern of drone sightings near military facilities across northern Europe, igniting discussions about national security and the potential involvement of foreign actors.

Unidentified drones have been observed hovering over a military base used by NATO in the Netherlands, the Dutch defense ministry reported.

Military personnel deployed weapons in attempts to take down the drones spotted near Volkel Air Base, located north of Eindhoven, between 19:00 and 21:00 local time (18:00-20:00 GMT) on Friday.

The defense ministry stated that the drones departed and were never recovered. This incident is part of a pattern, as the Netherlands has faced a surge of drone sightings around military installations and airfields in recent months.

Dutch police are currently investigating the Friday incident but have withheld further details for security reasons regarding the measures that were taken.

Volkel Air Base serves not only the Royal Netherlands Air Force but also hosts a U.S. Air Force squadron as part of NATO's operations.

This occurrence follows recent reports of similar drone sightings at other Dutch airbases, as well as military facilities in Belgium, Denmark, and Germany, raising grave concerns for security and the disruption of air traffic.

Lack of evidence regarding the origin of these drones has hampered investigations, especially since many drones depart without being intercepted. Some European officials have pointed fingers at hybrid warfare tactics from Russia, considering that the affected nations are all allied with Ukraine. However, the Kremlin has vehemently denied any involvement in these incidents.

In response to the heightened threats, defense ministers from ten EU countries have agreed to establish a drone wall, while individual nations are striving to augment their anti-drone defense systems.