My hands are itching, how can I, as an individual, contribute to Peace & Security in the Netherlands? How can I use my knowledge and experience in collaboration and decision-making to make a meaningful contribution? I suspect I’m not the only one asking this question. Young, old, from all walks of life, many feel the urgency to act. But how?
Recently, my wonderful colleague Kees retired from Rijkswaterstaat. With his departure, the labor market loses a skilled, curious, and level-headed professional with sharp political instincts. And he’s not the only one. I see more great people leaving across various sectors. Meanwhile, challenges in security and stability are only growing.
The looming threat that our way of life as we know it may change is becoming increasingly tangible. Even with a conscious “news diet”, the realization seeps in: we need to roll up our sleeves to safeguard our freedom. Rutte, now NATO Secretary-General, recently warned that we must mentally prepare for war. Point taken! The forces undermining the West, have been at work for a long time. And now some of the so-called “former West”is now eroding its own values, throwing the world order into turmoil. According to Rutger van der Hoeven, a journalist at De Groene Amsterdammer, we are in a gray zone of “not-peace”.
That gray zone is becoming more real by the day. Cyberattacks, troll armies, sabotage, arson, and even (attempted) assassinations. Recently, it was revealed that the CEO of the defence company Rheinmetall was a target. Was this deliberately leaked to create confusion? Or did intelligence agencies truly prevent an attack? We don’t know—and that makes it even more unsettling.
Van der Hoeven describes two ways of thinking that add to the confusion. The first is very binary: if we don’t see bombs falling, there is no war. But that’s too simplistic. The second: our enemies are weak, makeshift states that pose no real threat. But geopolitics is far more complex. Behind the scenes, dangerous forces are growing. This constant interplay between underestimation and exaggeration fuels uncertainty.
Meanwhile, the facts are clear. The Dutch military needs to expand by 30,000 people to reach 100,000, according to the Minister of Defence. The World Economic Forum warns that online disinformation is eroding trust in our institutions. In 2023, there were between 5,000 and 7,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions. With stricter EU regulations, that number will only rise. But where will we find the people?
And what about us? We plan vacations, make our homes more sustainable, scroll through TikTok, and retire. Understandable—we shouldn’t let fear consume us. But we also shouldn’t look away. Everyone willing and able to contribute to peace, security, and connection should have the opportunity to do so.
That’s why I advocate for a centralized digital platform that brings together all vacancies in this field. Right now, they’re scattered across organizations like the NCTV, Security Regions, Defence, AIVD, MIVD, Police, Water Boards, major municipalities, Rijkswaterstaat, TNO, and others. We need a single platform where motivated professionals -young and old -can sign up. Age should not be a barrier. Talented retirees, as well as people in active employment, can make a difference. Employers could even temporarily assign employees to serve the collective interest. With a fast and carefully structured process, we could match people to the right roles, offering training where needed.
But security doesn’t start at the institutional level, it starts with us. Security is the sum of peace and connection. By being warm and genuinely interested in each other, we can bring calm and understanding to everyday interactions, even in times of disagreement. Keeping peace in our hearts is a practice, and I try it daily, with mixed success. I cannot watch without anger and indignation at the reversals of truth that Zelensky had to deal with recently.
When Obama left the White House, Michelle Obama said: “When they go low, we go high.” Geopolitically, we can sink into fear and denial. But now, more than ever, we must sharpen our inner compass, without being naive. This, too, is a contribution: leading by example and holding each other accountable in a positive way. “Freiheit ohne Verantwortung geht gar nicht” (freedom without responsibility is impossible), I read while on vacation. And it’s true. We need to step up and work together to keep our society healthy.
I, for one, will do my best, both in my own environment and in my work. But that last part isn’t easy. Age, lack of direct experience, it’s a challenge. Yet, I won’t give up, because today’s threats demand action and cooperation. Everyone who can contribute to peace and security, must have the chance to do so. It’s all hands on deck.
Nathalie Vrancken is an independant chair in public-private projects.
