Go to content

The Dutch approach to clearing landmines

The Netherlands works towards a world free of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Even many years after an armed conflict has ended, landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war still pose a major threat to the local population. The presence of landmines is often also an obstacle to stability, reconstruction and development in vulnerable areas.

Landmines harm people and economies

Landmines and other explosive remnants of war claim many victims. They also make it impossible to build and farm in large areas, forcing many people to spend needlessly long periods in camps.

Demining access roads and residential areas makes a country’s economic and social recovery possible. Informing local residents about the risks of landmines and explosives also helps. Teaching them how to recognise a landmine limits the number of victims, for example.

The Netherlands’ contribution to humanitarian demining

The Dutch government gives over € 15 million a year in grants to demining programmes. The current grant programme, Mine Action and Cluster Munitions Programme III (MACM III) runs from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2030.

The grant provides funds to 7 international humanitarian demining NGOs. These are independent organisations working to enable civilians to rebuild their lives in affected areas. Their work includes:

  • reducing risks for local residents by clearing mines and providing information about risks;
  • detecting the location and size of minefields and marking and clearing them;
  • helping victims of mines resume their daily lives, for instance by offering psychiatric support;
  • supporting and educating local authorities so they can help make these areas safer themselves.

Besides the MACM III grant programme, the Netherlands also contributes to several UN organisations that work on demining, development and project support: the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The Ottawa Convention: ridding the world of landmines

The Netherlands is a signatory to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty (also known as the Ottawa Convention). It prohibits the production, sale, stockpiling and use of anti-personnel mines worldwide. These are mines that explode when someone steps on them. The convention also requires member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to clear mines on their territory. The Netherlands has also signed up to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

The Netherlands helps countries where landmines and cluster munitions are a problem, especially those that are signatories to these 2 conventions. It provides assistance with demining, destroying explosive remnants of war, helping victims, and other activities to dispose of mines and cluster munitions. Sometimes the Netherlands will also help with demining programmes in countries that have not signed up to the conventions. For instance if there is no central government, but urgent assistance is needed.