🇳🇱 Netherlands Nuclear Warheads Hosted
Overview in 2026
Volkel Air Base, located in the province of North Brabant, serves as the Netherlands' primary nuclear-sharing facility under NATO's dual-key system. U.S.-owned B61-12 tactical nuclear bombs are securely stored there, controlled by the U.S. 703rd Munitions Support Squadron and guarded in close cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). On 1 June 2024, the RNLAF formally transferred the nuclear strike mission from the F-16 to the F-35A Lightning II, making the Netherlands the first European country to operate a fifth-generation stealth aircraft in the nuclear delivery role.
Weapon Stockpile & Infrastructure
Former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers publicly acknowledged in 2013 the presence of 22 B61 bombs at Volkel. These weapons are stored in 11 WS3 vaults, each hidden beneath Protective Aircraft Shelters, with the system capable of holding up to 44 bombs. Under the B61-12 Life Extension Program completed in 2024, all older B61-3 and B61-4 variants have been replaced with modernized B61-12 warheads, which extend service life by 20 years and add a precision-guided tail kit. Current estimates place the stockpile at 10 to 15 warheads.
Security & Incidents
Volkel has implemented significant security enhancements, including reinforced perimeter defenses, restricted observation sites, upgraded tarmac to accommodate C-17 transport aircraft, and improved alarm systems linked to the WS3 vaults. These complement the vaults' embedded electronic surveillance and Permissive Action Links (PALs). In November 2025, multiple unidentified drones penetrated Volkel's restricted airspace, prompting Dutch military personnel to fire live ammunition at the intruders — a first for such an incident. As of January 2026, no suspects or drones were recovered, raising security concerns given the base's nuclear mission.
NATO Exercises & European Deterrence
NATO's annual nuclear exercise Steadfast Noon 2025 was hosted at Volkel from October 13–27, involving approximately 70 aircraft from 14 allied nations. Dutch F-35As participated alongside German and Italian Tornados, with supporting operations from Kleine-Brogel (Belgium) and RAF Lakenheath (UK).
In March 2026, the Netherlands accepted an invitation from France to participate in strategic nuclear deterrence talks alongside seven other European allies. The Dutch government characterized this as a supplement to, not a replacement for, NATO's nuclear deterrence. The new coalition government sworn in February 2026 maintains full commitment to the nuclear hosting role and rejects the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as incompatible with NATO membership.