The Dutch government announced that it would cut about 12,000 defence ministry jobs as part of an austerity push. According to latest news, about 2,300 jobs will be eliminated by not refilling vacant positions and another 4,000 jobs will disappear through natural wastage.

The job cuts are more ambitious than previously estimated. Last year, the government indicated it would probably cut about 10,000 jobs in the ministry, which employed about 68,000 people.