A Dutch soldier participating in a large-scale military exercise in Germany has been killed, the defense ministry has said.

The 21-year-old, who was not named, was reportedly involved in an accident, the ministry writes, but no further details were given.

The man was part of the 13th Light Brigade stationed in Oirschot in Brabant, which participated in Bastion Lion, an exercise held at the Güz Mark training facility some 150 kilometres west of Berlin.

The exercise is the biggest of this year, involving some 4,000 troops from three countries. All activity has been halted following the death.

German police are currently investigating the incident, assisted by the Dutch military police Koninklijke Marechaussee.