Environmental orgs., locals preparing lawsuit for lower flight cap for Schiphol Airport

Six environmental organizations and residents’ associations are preparing to fight the new Airport Traffic Decree (LVB) in a lawsuit filed with the Council of State. Their main issue is the flight cap for Schiphol set at 478,000 flight movements per year, with provisions for a “phased return” to 500,000 flights per year. According to the organizations, the government is again prioritizing the aviation lobby above the interests and health of locals.

The new LVB will take effect on November 1. It sets out regulations for Schiphol’s operations, including limits on the total number of flights and the maximum levels of noise and emissions permitted. Notably, it also adjusts the noise zones around the airport in a way that exposes more people to “severe noise nuisance,” but allows for the construction of 24,000 homes.

“With this decree, the Minister is once again prioritizing the interests of the aviation sector. He has succumbed to the lobbying efforts of KLM and Schiphol, while completely disregarding the health and interests of at least 1.5 million people living near the airport,” Johan Vollenbroek of Mobilisation for the Environment (MOB) said on behalf of the environmental and residents’ organizations, RTL Nieuws reported.

“Previous court rulings, as well as input from experts, civil society organizations, and advisory bodies, have been blatantly ignored,” Vollenbroek said. “This decree is severely inadequate and fails to provide sufficient protection for the environment and those living in the area.”

The organizations urged the Minister to “go back to the drawing board to craft a decree that actually protects people, the living environment, and the climate.” Vollenbroek: “That can only be achieved by reducing the number of flights.”

In addition to MOB, this lawsuit is backed by the environmental organizations Greenpeace Nederland and Milieudefensie, as well as the residents’ organizations S4R, SchipholWatch, and Recht op Bescherming tegen Vliegtuighinder.

The latter organization won a lawsuit against the Dutch State in March 2024, in which the Hague District Court ruled that the State had “consistently failed to properly weigh the interests of local residents” when making decisions regarding Schiphol Airport and its flight movements.

Minister Vincent Karremans of Infrastructure and Water Management has previously faced similar criticism in parliament. He rejects it. “I have spoken with a great many locals who say: ‘I understand that Schiphol needs to exist - in fact, we earn a very good living from it - but please, ensure that there are rules in place.’” According to Karremans, the new LVB is intended to provide those rules.