The Dutch military has used weapons against drones that were spotted above an air force base in the southeast of the Netherlands, the country's defence ministry says.

Security staff at the Volkel air base, close to the German border, spotted the drones between 7pm and 9pm on Friday, the ministry said .

"Air force staff used weapons from the ground to take the drones down," it added.

"The drones left and were not retrieved."

The defence ministry said it was unclear why the drones flew in areas where they are not allowed to.

The military police said it had opened an investigation.

Australian Associated Press

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