NATO SECRET (NS) is the second tier in the NATO security classification hierarchy, sitting below COSMIC TOP SECRET and above NATO CONFIDENTIAL. Information bearing this marking is defined as information whose unauthorised disclosure would cause serious damage to NATO or to one or more member nations. Access requires a personnel security clearance granted by the relevant national security authority — in the Netherlands, this is coordinated through the AIVD — as well as a formal need-to-know determination.
Professionals working at or in support of NATO bodies, including agencies based in the Netherlands, must hold a valid national clearance at the equivalent level before the alliance will grant access to NATO SECRET material. Positions at NSPA, NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), or Allied Command Transformation support structures frequently carry this requirement. The clearance is tied to a specific billet rather than being portable between assignments.
Employers recruiting for roles that involve NATO SECRET access should confirm that candidates are eligible under their national vetting framework and allow adequate lead time before the start date. Dutch nationals require a Zeer Geheim-level VGB as the underlying national clearance before NATO access can be activated.