Auditors: €9.5bn needed to put roads and railways on war footing

The Netherlands requires a staggering €9.5 billion investment to upgrade its road and rail infrastructure for military purposes, according to auditors. The Court of Audit warned that the country's aging infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle military vehicles and supplies, leading to limitations in usage. Key strategic routes, such as bridges and railways connecting the Netherlands to NATO partners, could face severe consequences if compromised.

Last year, junior infrastructure minister Thierry Aartsen called for a review of railway lines due to concerns about their vulnerability to sabotage. Saboteurs recently targeted the railway network, causing significant disruptions and raising fears of potential attacks. The auditors recommend allocating €5 billion to meet NATO standards, including widening military corridors, increasing clearance heights, and reinforcing bridges.

The auditors also noted that the proposed list of projects is incomplete, as it does not account for spending on waterways or maintaining current military corridors. This investment far exceeds the €1.5 billion budget allocated for road and bridge repairs in the Netherlands over the next decade. NATO countries have pledged to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, with 1.5% allocated to critical infrastructure.