Dutch military uses weapons against drones over base

The Dutch army used weapons against unmanned aerial vehicles detected above an air base in the southeast of the Netherlands, the country’s defense ministry said.

The ministry said security personnel at the Volkel air base near the German border detected the drones between 19:00 and 21:00 on Friday.

“Air force personnel used ground weapons to shoot down the drones,” the statement said.

“The drones are gone and can’t be taken back.”

Staff working with @VlbVolkel’s land valve are not currently using drones at all. De drones zijn vertrokken en niet teruggevonden: https://t.co/Mw76UAYQoD https://t.co/UY6OQLpSsU— Ministerie van Defensie (@Defensie) November 22, 2025

The defense ministry said it was unclear why the drones were flying in unauthorized areas.

Military police said they had launched an investigation.