Colonel Bas Van Den Berg, Chief Engineer of the Netherlands Armed Forces, sat down with Harry at Combat Engineer and Logistics 2026 to discuss how Dutch sappers are adapting to the demands of large-scale combat operations. From a fundamental shift in risk acceptance to new procurement programmes — including Boxer vehicles, counter-mine systems developed jointly with Germany, and ferry bridging solutions being acquired alongside Denmark — Colonel Van Den Berg outlines the capabilities his force is building for the future. He also addresses the growing complexity of operating in urban environments, and the broader transition from traditional engineering toward the full scope of NATO military engineering.
