Check out a map of the Warsaw Pact. Most of those Eastern European nations were forcibly enlisted by the Soviets, including tanks on city streets. What was between Holland and the same fate? Only Germany, a nation that was disarmed and already divided into 3 zones, bringing the Soviets even closer to you. Troops were placed in the US and British zones to protect against Soviet incursion. Whose troops were they? Can we agree that although the Netherlands was a member of NATO, its contribution was not heavily military? You did not have to gird yourselves fully for war, even though it was right at your doorstep. Why not? The threat was real, the tanks were real. Could it have been to do with the troops and nuclear weapons stationed in Germany, ready to retaliate if the tanks rolled?