Belgian PM’s Son Trains as Combat Engineer Reservist

Simon De Wever (21), the youngest son of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, is undergoing specialized combat engineering training this summer to become a military reservist with the Belgian Army’s 11th Engineer Battalion, the Prime Minister revealed on Instagram. The news offers a rare glimpse into the personal life of Belgium’s leader while underscoring the government’s broader push to dramatically expand the country’s reserve forces.

A Family Affair

Bart De Wever, who has led Belgium’s “Arizona” coalition government since 2025, shared a photo of his son in full military gear on Instagram with the caption “Trots!” (“Proud!”). According to La Libre Belgique, this is not the first time the Prime Minister has spoken about his son’s interest in the military. In April 2026, De Wever posted a photo of Simon in uniform cleaning the terrace, writing: “Our youngest son at work. He would like to become a reservist and is already fully immersing himself.”

Simon, one of four children, completed his one-month basic reservist training in summer 2025. This year, he is specializing in combat engineering with the 11th Engineer Battalion, based in Burcht near Antwerp, with additional exercises at the military domain in Leopoldsburg.

What Combat Engineers Do

Retired Colonel Roger Housen, a military expert, provided detailed insight into Simon’s training in an interview with HLN. “Last year, son De Wever completed his basic reservist training, which lasts one month. This summer he is specializing with the engineer unit,” Housen explained.

Combat engineers, colloquially known as “geniakken,” have a dual operational mission. On the mobility side, they help advance friendly troops by building bridges, repairing roads, clearing obstacles, and enabling river crossings. On the counter-mobility side, they slow or block enemy movements by laying minefields, constructing anti-tank ditches, and using explosives to destroy targets.

“A training day can consist of a physical session in the morning with a theory lesson, followed by a practical exercise in the afternoon, such as building a bridge or constructing a shelter,” Housen told HLN. Combat engineers are considered one of the most versatile roles in the army, providing direct support to infantry and cavalry at the front.

Student-Reservist Program

Simon is part of Belgium’s student-reservist program, which allows university and college students to combine their studies with voluntary military service. Student-reservists earn approximately €2,000 net per month—the starting soldier salary—with a reduced solidarity contribution of 2.71% instead of the standard 13%.

According to HLN’s initial report, Housen clarified that student-reservists like Simon are not at risk of deployment to conflict zones. A mobilization law would need to pass through parliament first, which remains “a long way off” in Belgium.

Broader Military Expansion

The timing of the news aligns with Belgium’s ambitious military expansion under Defense Minister Theo Francken (N-VA). As VRT NWS reported, Francken aims to increase the active duty force from approximately 27,000 to 34,500 soldiers, while expanding the reserve corps from roughly 3,500 active reservists to 12,000–20,000.

“We’re naturally not going to achieve that the day after tomorrow; it will be gradual,” Francken said in March 2025. The student-reservist program is a key recruitment pipeline, and starting in 2026, 500 spots for voluntary military service are available for 18-year-olds, increasing to 1,000 per year from 2027.

Simon De Wever’s high-profile training serves as effective publicity for the program. Having the Prime Minister’s son as an informal ambassador for military recruitment lends credibility and visibility to the Arizona government’s defense commitments, which have been driven by heightened security concerns in Europe following the Russia-Ukraine war.

What’s Next

After completing his specialized training, Simon will join his family for a trip to Japan in August, visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, and Hiroshima. He will then remain in Japan for an exchange year at Yokohama starting in September 2026. Defense officials have confirmed that his studies take priority, and he will not be called up for military obligations during his academic year abroad.

The story highlights a broader trend across Europe as nations strengthen their military capabilities and reserve forces in response to an evolving security landscape. For Belgium, the personal example set by the Prime Minister’s family may prove instrumental in encouraging more young citizens to consider reserve service.