© picture alliance / Zoonar | Berit Kessler
The Netherlands is not sure whether the its critical infrastructure in the North Sea, with gas and electricity pipelines, data and telecom cables, is sufficiently protected. Trouw reports that this is a conclusion drawn by the Court of Audit in a new report.
Defense has already spotted 12 suspicious Russian ships in the North Sea in the first two months of 2026.
The biggest problem is the lack of a central control room where all threat information is gathered. Involved ministries and services such as the AIVD work too much to their own devices. An advisory report that signaled this as early as 2025 was passed back and forth for months without action.
Funding is also a sticking point: after investments of 41 million euros in 2024-2025, money for 2026 is missing. The ministry is asking for 70 million a year, but is still waiting for approval.
"There is a back door open," Barbara Joziasse of the Court of Audit warns in the newspaper. Without structural funding and an umbrella control room, we are merely waiting for the first incident.
Picture: © picture alliance / Zoonar | Berit Kessler