’t Harde, Netherlands – A shaky handheld video filmed by X user Evert Reitsma shows a fierce wildfire sweeping through the dry heathland of the military Artillerie Schietkamp training ground in ’t Harde on the Veluwe. Bright orange flames surge quickly across the terrain in a long, intense line, creating a striking wall of fire, while towering plumes of orange-gray and black smoke rise high into the sky and dominate the horizon.

In the foreground, green birch trees appear as dark silhouettes against the blazing backdrop as the camera moves unsteadily from a nearby road or path, capturing the scale of the fire.

The footage was shared with the caption: “Severe fire at the military training ground in ’t Harde. The smoke is clearly visible over a wide area. Hopefully the fire brigade gets it under control quickly!” It was recorded on April 29, 2026, shortly after the blaze began around 11:30 a.m. during a scheduled military exercise involving rifle and machine-gun fire, cannons, and explosives.

Described as “exceptionally large” for the Netherlands, the fire has already spread over more than 2 km and remains uncontained. Hundreds of firefighters from across the region are working to battle the flames, which may take days to extinguish due to extremely dry conditions.

Thick toxic smoke has forced the closure of the A28 and N309 highways and can be seen across dozens of kilometers, reaching as far as Amsterdam and even parts of England. The Royal Marechaussee has opened a criminal investigation into the cause, with possible links to the ongoing military training.

The raw amateur footage highlights the immense scale and rapid spread of the heathland fire at one of the country’s largest military ranges.

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