Diest (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – By 2027, Belgium’s Defence Ministry will build a €13.5 million dining hall at Schaffen’s Parachute Training Centre near Diest. Minister Theo Francken says it will serve the growing army’s needs.
As VRT News reported, by 2027, the army base in Schaffen near Diest, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, will get a new dining building. Officials mentioned that the old one is very old and no longer good enough. It is not warm in winter because it has no proper insulation. It also does not follow today’s safety and hygiene rules.
The new building will cost more than 13 million euros. The Ministry of Defence wants better places for soldiers to eat and work. The new kitchen and dining room will be bigger, safer, and use less energy.
What will €13.5M bring to the Schaffen army base by 2027?
The army base in Schaffennear Diest will get a new dining building that is ready for more soldiers. The Ministry of Defence expects more people to join the army soon. It will be built to save energy and follow new rules. They mentioned that many soldiers eat at the base every day, so the new space must be large enough.
The Ministry of Defence will build a new dining building at the “Sub-Lieutenant Devignez” base in Schaffen. This base is part of the Parachute Training Centre in Diest. The project is part of a plan to improve army buildings. The work will start this year.
First, 2 old buildings will be taken down. The new building will have one big kitchen and many support rooms. It will also have a dining hall with 200 seats. There will be more space where people can sit or stand. Minister Theo Francken says all food services will be in one place.
“The new building will also house office spaces, briefing rooms, and meeting rooms,”
Francken said.
“There will also be parking next to the building.”
Soldiers at the Schaffen base will still get food while the new dining hall is being built. The army will place container units on the site to use as a kitchen and eating area. When the new building is done, the containers will not be removed.
Minister Theo Francken said they will be turned into places for soldiers to change clothes, wash, and rest. He mentioned that the plan helps improve life for the soldiers and keeps the base ready for training special army teams.
According to officials, the Parachute Training Centre in Schaffen near Diest is a very important place for the Belgian army. Soldiers go there to learn how to jump with parachutes and train for special missions. The centre has been used for many years and helps prepare troops for jobs in Belgium and other countries.
As the army grows, more people will come to train there. That is why the Ministry of Defence wants to improve the base. They are working on new buildings and better tools for the soldiers. The new dining hall is one part of this bigger plan. The government wants to make sure the army has what it needs to do its work well.
