Air Base De Peel
The Ministry of Defense eventually wants to bring De Peel Air Base back into use. This is part of Defense Department expansion plans throughout the Netherlands. The expansion is necessary because of increasing uncertainty and threats in the world. For De Peel Air Base, Defense has plans to allow F-35 fighter jets to take off and land there. This requires an airport decision. On this page you will find more information about the process the Ministry of Defense is going through and how local residents and other stakeholders are involved. You can also find the position of the municipality of Gemert-Bakel on this page.
Potential impact on our region
The Department of Defense will explore three space needs in our region that may impact our environment.
1. Fighter aircraft at De Peel airbase.
Defense needs additional space for 2,300 operations of the F-35. An operation is the take-off and landing of one aircraft. For this, Defense is investigating several locations, including De Peel Air Base.
2. Construction of sand landing strip
De Peel Air Base is in the picture as an alternative location for the construction of a sand landing runway for the take-off and landing of the C-130 (Hercules) transport aircraft. From 2026 this transport aircraft will be replaced by the C-390M. With priority, Defense is looking at Deelen (Veluwe) airfield for this need.
3. Expansion of low flying areas for helicopters.
Our region, along with other areas, is under consideration as a low flying area for helicopters. The proposed location is located west, adjacent to the current low flying area south of Venray and towards Asten / Eindhoven.
The plans
Until recently, the plan was to look only at De Peel Air Base for the temporary stationing of F-35 fighter jets. That process has been stopped by Defense. At the same time, a new process was started to identify the entire space requirement for Defense. This process was formally started with the submission for public inspection of the Notitie Reikwijdte en on December 18, 2023.
Until Feb. 12, 2024, the Ministry of Defense has given everyone the opportunity to submit a formal view on the Notitie Reikwijdte en Detailniveau (NRD).
Position of the municipality of Gemert-Bakel
Municipality of Gemert-Bakel submitted a formal to Defense on the NRD on February 7, 2024. We have indicated in the coalition agreement that we are against a possible reopening of De Peel airbase, because there could be many consequences for residents and (agricultural) entrepreneurs. We are working together with surrounding municipalities and provinces on this issue.
More than 2,000 views on Defense Department expansion plans
Residents, businesses, governments and interest groups have also submitted views on the Defense Department's expansion plans. In total this concerns 2,243 views. The responses to these views are provided in a so-called Memorandum of Reply. The contents will be included in the further study of the effects on the living environment.
Information meetings
In June 2024, information meetings will be organized in our province (North Brabant) and in the province of Limburg. During these meetings, the Ministry of Defense will explain which parts of the (plan EIA) study have been supplemented in response to the Memorandum of Reply and the results obtained from the study up to that point will be shared. At this meeting there is room to provide additional insights.
On Wednesday, June 26, the meeting will be held in North Brabant. You can sign up for one of the meetings through the Defense Link icon web page.
Follow-up steps
The information retrieved will be included in the National Policy Vision Space for Defense. The cabinet will decide on this in 2025. The information retrieved will be considered in the input of Defense for the National Policy Document on Space.
Staying informed?
Visit this webpage or sign up for the Defense Department's Neighborhood Mailing.
Neighborhood Mailing Defense
The Department of Defense has information on progress and decision making through its website external icon. Would you like to be actively kept informed by Defense about news about the reopening? Then sign up for the Defense newsletter: Neighborhood Mailing De Peel. You can sign up by sending an e-mail to informatiedeelpeel@mindef.nl. You can also use this e-mail address to ask Defense questions about this topic.