☀️ The Hague Insider Summer Briefing: how big is Dutch Support for Ukraine? New documents reveal billions, new drone factories and an expanding military partnership
Every Saturday and Sunday this summer, The Hague Insider publishes a special Summer Briefing, taking a deep dive into the politicians, companies and policy issues shaping The Hague, Brussels and beyond. How much support is Ukraine actually receiving from the Netherlands, what new projects are quietly taking shape behind the scenes, and why is The Hague taking on an increasingly ambitious role? Newly released government documents reveal that Dutch military support has reached an unprecedented scale. But behind the multi-billion-euro figures lies a much bigger story involving drone production, defence-industrial cooperation, NATO initiatives and a long-term strategy that is set to continue for years to come.
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The Netherlands remains committed to supporting Ukraine "without hesitation" in its war against Russia. According to the latest overview sent to parliament, the Dutch government has now committed or delivered an estimated €20.7 billion in military support through 2031, alongside €5.1 billion in non-military assistance. Together, this amounts to nearly €26 billion in total support.
And more funding is already in the pipeline.
The Dutch government has pledged to make approximately €3 billion available annually between 2027 and 2029 for continued military support to Ukraine. That commitment places the Netherlands among Europe's most active and consistent supporters of Kyiv.
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The newly released documents offer one of the clearest overviews yet of how broad Dutch support has become, ranging from direct weapons deliveries and NATO contributions to drone production, military training missions and increasingly close cooperation between Dutch and Ukrainian defence companies.
Dutch support commitments approach €26 billion
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Dutch support for Ukraine has expanded far beyond weapons deliveries. According to the latest government overview, military support amounts to €20.749 billion, while non-military support totals €5.127 billion. The figures include both spending already delivered and commitments extending through 2031.
The newly released documents offer one of the clearest overviews yet of how broad Dutch support has become, ranging from direct military assistance and NATO programmes to reconstruction initiatives, energy security projects, humanitarian assistance, investment support and increasingly close cooperation between Dutch and Ukrainian companies.
The support package consists of three main categories:
- €2.5 billion in direct military deliveries from Dutch stockpiles;
- €9.7 billion in commercially procured military equipment and systems;
- €179 million in contributions to NATO support programmes for Ukraine.
The strongest growth has come through commercial acquisitions, with the Dutch government increasingly purchasing military systems directly from industry to meet specific Ukrainian operational requirements.
A major component is the Netherlands' €1 billion contribution to NATO's Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. Through the programme, allies rapidly acquire critical military capabilities — including American-made systems — to address urgent Ukrainian needs, particularly in the field of air defence.
New €500 Million drone package
One of the most significant recent developments is a new military support package worth approximately €500 million, announced on 17 June.
The funding will be used in part to produce drones in the Netherlands for Ukraine and to strengthen Ukrainian air defence capabilities through the PURL framework.
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According to the Dutch government, the initiative is designed not only to support Ukraine but also to strengthen Europe's defence-industrial base. Officials argue that increased domestic production capacity will reduce dependence on external suppliers and improve Europe's long-term military resilience.
Ukrainian drones produced in the Netherlands
Cooperation between Dutch and Ukrainian defence companies is becoming a central pillar of the relationship.
On 16 April, companies from both countries signed a licensing agreement for the production of two types of Ukrainian drones in the Netherlands. The Ministry of Defence describes the project as the first concrete defence co-production initiative between the two countries.
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The Hague views the arrangement as a strategic investment. Ukrainian companies bring years of combat-tested battlefield experience, while Dutch firms contribute advanced technology, engineering expertise and innovation capabilities.
The partnership expanded further on 17 June, when the Netherlands and Ukraine signed a new Letter of Intent aimed at accelerating and institutionalising cooperation in defence innovation.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers trained
Dutch support extends far beyond military hardware.
Since 2022, the Netherlands has participated in a range of international military training programmes for Ukrainian personnel. Through the British-led Operation Interflex, approximately 63,000 Ukrainian soldiers have now been trained.
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In addition, the Netherlands contributed to the training of around 900 Ukrainian marines in Romania during 2025.
Beginning in June 2026, part of the Dutch training effort is being shifted to the European Union's EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) based in Germany. More than 86,000 Ukrainian servicemen and women have been trained through the programme to date.
Dutch instructors are involved in specialist courses including:
- Leopard 1 tank crew training;
- self-propelled artillery operator training;
- other advanced military specialisations.
NATO, the EU and frozen Russian assets
Beyond national initiatives, the Netherlands plays an active role in both NATO and EU support efforts.
The Dutch government has contributed €179 million to NATO's Ukraine Comprehensive Assistance Package (UCAP), which provides a range of non-lethal military assistance.
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Within the EU's European Peace Facility (EPF), around €6 billion in military support for Ukraine has been committed so far.
One notable Dutch responsibility involves the procurement of €100 million worth of drones from Ukrainian defence companies, financed through European funds partly derived from interest generated on frozen Russian central-bank assets.
Defence ministry acknowledges impact on Dutch armed forces
The scale of support has inevitably affected the Dutch military itself.
In the letter, the Ministry of Defence acknowledges that the consequences for military readiness are "significant but acceptable". To mitigate the effects, the government is accelerating the replacement of equipment donated from Dutch stockpiles and investing additional resources into procurement and project management capacity.
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According to the cabinet, however, support for Ukraine remains a vital investment in European security and therefore continues to outweigh the costs.
New recovery and reconstruction package
The latest parliamentary letter also highlights a significant expansion of Dutch non-military support.
During the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, the Dutch government announced plans to accelerate €178 million in additional support for 2026, bringing forward funds that had originally been reserved for 2028 and 2029. The package remains subject to parliamentary approval.
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The proposed funding includes:
- €40 million through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD);
- €20 million for energy support through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund;
- €45 million for reconstruction projects via the World Bank;
- €15 million for humanitarian assistance through the UN, ICRC and Dutch civil-society organisations;
- €10 million to address urgent healthcare needs;
- €5 million for mental-health and psychosocial support programmes;
- €18 million reserved for urgent future needs.
According to the cabinet, sustaining Ukraine's economy and society is essential to helping the country continue resisting Russian aggression.
Energy security
A major theme during the Ukraine Recovery Conference was preparation for another difficult winter.
The Netherlands and Ukraine signed a new bilateral Energy Road Map, aimed at strengthening Ukrainian energy resilience and improving the effectiveness of Dutch energy assistance. The agreement comes as Ukrainian energy infrastructure continues to face repeated Russian attacks and Kyiv estimates it requires roughly €5 billion in energy-related support this year alone.
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Dutch ministers argue that safeguarding Ukraine's energy network is not only a humanitarian priority but also a key component of Ukraine's national resilience and security.
Dutch businesses expand their role in Ukraine
The Dutch government is also increasingly encouraging private-sector involvement in Ukraine's reconstruction.
A Dutch business delegation travelled to the Ukraine Recovery Conference, where several agreements were signed between Dutch and Ukrainian partners. Among them, the Dutch energy company NAM and Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz signed a letter of intent to deepen cooperation and explore the reuse of equipment from Dutch gas infrastructure projects.
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Other agreements involved VDL, Philips, Invest International and QuinteQ Energy. The projects range from rehabilitation facilities and healthcare infrastructure to energy systems and microgrid technologies for Ukraine's port sector.
Meanwhile, discussions between the ports of Rotterdam and Odesa have resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding focused on port development, logistics and knowledge sharing.
Four years ago, the Netherlands was widely seen as a reliable but relatively cautious NATO and EU ally. Today, The Hague has become one of Ukraine's most committed European supporters, not only on the battlefield but also in reconstruction, economic recovery and long-term state resilience.
Several factors explain the shift. Russia's invasion fundamentally changed Dutch thinking about security, reinforcing the view that the security of the Netherlands and Europe is directly linked to Ukraine's ability to defend itself. But the latest government documents also reveal something broader: Dutch policymakers increasingly see Ukraine as a strategic partner in areas ranging from defence innovation and drone production to energy security, logistics and industrial cooperation.
Projects such as drone production in the Netherlands, the Build With Ukraine initiative, the new Energy Road Map, cooperation between Dutch and Ukrainian businesses and large-scale reconstruction financing demonstrate that the relationship now extends far beyond traditional military aid. Ukraine is increasingly becoming a long-term strategic partner for both the Dutch state and the Dutch private sector.
With more than €20.7 billion in military support planned or delivered through 2031, over €5.1 billion in non-military assistance, and nearly €26 billion in total support commitments, the Netherlands is positioning itself among Ukraine's most important European partners.
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