US nuclear weapons in the Netherlands
A non-nuclear state whose aircraft train to deliver American B61 bombs under NATO nuclear sharing.
Overview
The Netherlands hosts an estimated 10 to 15 US B61 gravity bombs at Volkel Air Base, a role long treated as an open secret until US documents and former officials progressively confirmed it. The weapons are in US custody; the Royal Netherlands Air Force provides the delivery aircraft under NATO dual-key procedures.
The Netherlands was the first European ally to move its nuclear role to the F-35A: the Dutch Defence Ministry announced that the F-35 took over the mission from the F-16 with effect from 1 June 2024, carrying the modernized B61-12. US F-35As had already held a nuclear role before that, so the Dutch squadrons were the first European, rather than the first NATO, fifth-generation dual-capable force. The Netherlands sits in NATO's Nuclear Planning Group and has consistently supported the arrangement while advocating arms-control engagement.
A non-nuclear-weapon state under the NPT, the Netherlands was the only NATO member to participate in the TPNW negotiations in 2017, before voting against the treaty, which it considers incompatible with alliance obligations. The government pairs hosting with advocacy for arms-control engagement, against domestic opinion that polls persistently against the weapons' presence.
The Netherlands is also one of the nine European partners, as of June 2026, in the "forward deterrence" opened by France on 2 March 2026, under which French nuclear-capable aircraft could be stationed temporarily at allied bases.
Hardware of the arrangement
| Air base | Est. warheads |
|---|---|
| Volkel Air Base | 10–15 |
| Non-Proliferation Treaty | Non-nuclear-weapon state |
| Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) | Ratified |
| Prohibition Treaty (TPNW) | Voted against, 2017 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Netherlands have nuclear weapons of its own?
No. Netherlands is a non-nuclear-weapon state under the NPT. It hosts an estimated 15 US warheads that remain under United States's custody; they could only be used by joint decision, and Netherlands owns none of them.
Where are the US nuclear weapons in the Netherlands stored?
In underground vaults at Volkel Air Base, guarded by a US munitions support squadron. The exact number of weapons at the base is classified; public figures are analyst estimates.
- OCT 72026 Updated Nuclear overview updated through October 2026
- AUG 112026 Updated Deployed warheads updated
- MAR 172026 Updated Nuclear overview updated
- JAN 202026 Updated Nuclear overview updated