Members of the Dutch armed forces are urging the government to allow them to wear their uniforms to and from work.

Soldiers were banned from wearing their uniforms outside army premises in 2014 because of the risk of a terrorist attack. But now both officers and foot soldiers say the ban is ‘giving into terrorists’ and want a rethink.

‘There have been no new threats made against us,’ Ruud Vermeulen, chairman of the officers’ association GOV told the AD. ‘Police officers and wardens walk around in uniforms. And my members think they should be able to wear their uniforms too.’

By taking off their uniforms, soldiers are giving away to terrorists and this is damaging the honour of the armed forces, he said. ‘We want to show that protecting the Netherlands is part of our job.’

Defence minister Jeanine Hennis told the Telegraaf that she had no plans to change her position. Nor would she say if there had been any new threats made against armed forces personnel.