The Dutch Defence Cluster has opened in Kyiv — a platform for cooperation between Ukrainian and Dutch defence tech businesses

At the Brave1 Defence Tech Valley 2025 summit in Lviv, the Dutch Defence Cluster was officially launched — a platform designed to foster cooperation between Ukrainian and Dutch defence technology companies.

The founders of the cluster are Wouter Hollander and Emiel de Sevren Jacquet. Hollander has been working in Ukraine since 2023, is the founder of several projects, and heads the Ukrainian division of a private defence company that aims to “increase drone flight range by 30–100%.” Emiel de Sevren Jacquet is the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Amsterdam, as well as the founder of several businesses and non-profit organisations.

“We are a Dutch initiative based in Ukraine, helping defence companies gain access to the right people, knowledge, and infrastructure,” Hollander wrote. He plans to establish a network that will connect Dutch innovators with Ukrainian decision-makers in the military, government, and industry sectors.

Hollander emphasises that the cluster is a non-profit organisation. The Dutch Defence Cluster office will be located in Kyiv, and it aims to provide a range of services for defence companies, including legal and financial support in Ukraine.