From 18 to 22 May 2026, the auditors of the EDA major flew to the Netherlands for their study mission, a strategic immersion within a key European partner, which enabled them to deepen their understanding of the dynamics of security, innovation and the defence economy in a country that is both highly integrated into European structures and committed to transforming its strategic capabilities.
Why the Netherlands?
Thanks to its central geographical position, its economic openness and its expertise in the technological, industrial and logistics sectors, the Netherlands is a particularly relevant field of study for IHEDN auditors.
The aim of this mission was to gain a better understanding of the way in which a European State today combines sovereignty, cooperation and innovation in the face of new security challenges.
The auditors were able to analyse :
- the place of the Netherlands in the European strategic balance
- Franco-Dutch cooperation on armaments
- changes in the defence industry
- cybersecurity, resilience and crisis management issues
- the impact of energy and technology transitions on defence policies
Beyond strictly military issues, this mission also enabled us to observe the functioning of a European ecosystem combining institutions, industry, innovation and multilateralism.
A packed programme of diplomacy, industry and innovation
Throughout the week, listeners took part in a wide range of conferences, institutional meetings and field visits to learn more about the major issues facing the European defence economy today.
Among the highlights of the mission:
- Analysis of Franco-Dutch relations in the field of armaments and industrial cooperation
- Presentation of the new Dutch defence doctrine, geared towards innovation and adaptation to high-intensity conflicts
- Study of the financing of the defence effort and investment strategies
- Focus on naval innovation and the capabilities of the Royal Netherlands Navy
- Meetings with institutional and industrial players in the DTIB and with entrepreneurs brought together by French Tech Amsterdam
- Visits to the industrial sites of Thales Netherlands, which specialises in radar systems, and Destinus, an innovative company in the field of missiles and disruptive technologies.
- Discover the Port of Rotterdam, a major strategic infrastructure and global logistics hub at the heart of European economic flows.
A concrete vision of European defence issues
This fact-finding mission enabled the auditors to develop a concrete understanding of the challenges facing European states: rising international tensions, adapting industrial models, technological sovereignty, cybersecurity and the resilience of critical infrastructures.
It also illustrates the growing importance of European cooperation in the fields of armaments, innovation and economic security.
Through this immersion in the Netherlands, students in the EDA major were able to enrich their strategic thinking while increasing their knowledge of the profound changes that are currently reshaping European defence policies.
