Dutch Group Raises €750K for Underground Ukraine Hospital

When war pushes medical care away from those who need it most, a group of Dutch volunteers decided to bring the hospital to the soldiers instead.

Protect Ukraine, a Dutch foundation with about 100 volunteers, is partnering with Norwegian group HMM Healthcare to build something unprecedented: a fully equipped hospital buried eight meters underground. The 600-square-meter concrete facility will function as a giant bunker, allowing wounded soldiers to receive critical care closer to combat zones without the constant threat from above.

The project has already captured hearts and wallets across the Netherlands. In just a few months, donors have contributed €750,000 toward the €2.5 million total cost. The foundation hopes to have the underground hospital fully operational by February 2027.

Jaap Scholten, a Dutch writer who co-founded Protect Ukraine, sees the rapid fundraising as proof that support for Ukraine remains strong. "The fact that we have raised three-quarters of a million euros in such a short time shows that people in the Netherlands have not forgotten Ukraine," he told reporters.

The idea for Protect Ukraine started small. Scholten, who lives in Hungary, watched his neighbors hand out fruit, energy bars, and blankets to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. The simple acts of kindness sparked something bigger in him.

"Arranging supplies for Ukrainians is the most effective thing you can do to help," Scholten explained. He launched Protect Ukraine to turn that conviction into action.

Today, the foundation runs regular supply trips to Ukraine, delivering medicines, pop-up tents, and pickup trucks. But the underground hospital represents their most ambitious project yet.

The Ripple Effect

The stabilization point will do more than treat injuries. By bringing medical care closer to the front lines, it reduces dangerous transport times for wounded soldiers. Every minute saved in those critical first hours can mean the difference between life and death.

The project also demonstrates how grassroots fundraising can tackle massive challenges. A network of ordinary citizens, moved by images of suffering thousands of miles away, is building infrastructure that governments might take years to approve.

And the volunteers aren't stopping at one hospital. Every donation beyond the initial goal could fund medical equipment, training for Ukrainian medical staff, or even future facilities in other strategic locations.

As construction plans move forward, Scholten remains focused on the finish line: "Every donation brings us closer to a hospital and stabilization point that can save many lives."