Briefing
The Dutch military has called off, for now, a November 2026 planned field exercise at the former Bundeswehr depot in Itterbeck (Grafschaft Bentheim district) and, according to its own account, moved it to the Netherlands The move was confirmed by Grafschaft Bentheim district, the Province of Overijssel and the property-owning company in a joint statement reported by North German Broadcasting on 5 November.
A unit of around 250 recruits was planned for a period of 14 weeks. The parties initially gave no reason for the cancellation. According to the district administration, the site in the south-western Lower Saxony had previously been assessed for testing and training phases. The basis for this is a letter of intent signed at the end of September 2026 by the district and the Province of Overijssel to deepen cross-border cooperation, including in security and training.
The former Bundeswehr depot in Itterbeck covers around 110 hectares and includes halls, bunkers and open areas. The property-owning company considers the site suitable for a range of uses. Regional statements had also said that possible longer-term use as a training facility for up to 500 people from 2028 was under consideration. According to the parties involved, those discussions are unaffected by the current cancellation.
In the short term, this means that planned logistical and organisational tasks in the the County of Bentheimwill no longer take place. At the same time, the potential economic effects of any future use for the region remain unclear. The district and province stressed that the move does not alter their aim of developing their cooperation. A plan for future collaboration is being drawn up. In parallel, the property-owning company is considering alternative uses for the site, including storage space and data centres.
What is clear: the planned recruit training is not currently taking place in Itterbeck. What remains unclear is what specific reasons led to its cancellation and whether the Dutch military will hold exercises in Itterbeck again at a later date. Further negotiations and possible contractual agreements will determine this. No decision has yet been made on a permanent deployment or regular training schedule.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).