Defence union and other sources have told broadcaster NOS that the ministry is looking to expand its workforce to some 200,000, including military, civilian and reservist forces.

Two unions told the broadcaster that the new target, double the previous estimate, has been mentioned in talks with ministers. Armed Forces Minister Gijs Tuinman is due to send a briefing to parliament about his plans on Monday.

The ministry currently has a workforce of some 75,000, including 8,000 reservists who can be called on if necessary.

Active military service stopped in the Netherlands in 1997. Nowadays, all boys and girls are sent a letter in the year they turn 17, informing them that they have been added to the military service register. They can be called up at any time if the Netherlands goes to war with another country before they turn 45.

Defence spending

Meanwhile, prime minister Dick Schoof told reporters after Thursday’s EU summit in Brussels that other EU countries are not “busy watching” the Dutch standpoint on the commission’s €800 billion plan to beef up defence capabilities.

A majority of MPs, including three of the four coalition parties, have voted against the idea of using debt – Eurobonds – to boost military spending, putting Schoof in a potentially awkward position.

“It’s a discussion that we are having in the Dutch parliament and is not being talked about here,” he said. “The Netherlands is against Eurobonds and I have said that before, but that does not mean you cannot have constructive talks about ways to ensure defence is strengthened.”

Central bank

Dutch central bank chief Klaas Knot told RTL at the presentation of the DNB’s annual report on Thursday that the Netherlands needs to be less emotional about the idea of taking on more debt, temporarily.

“Ultimately it is a political choice and I hope it will be made on rational not emotional grounds,” he said.

“Defence spending needs to be increased in the very, very, very short term,” he said. “There are times when other things are more important than book-keeping.”