Facts & Figures
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is the main international airport of the Netherlands, and is one of the major hubs in Europe. It was the world’s third-busiest airport by international passenger traffic in 2023 (72 million) and the busiest in terms of aircraft movements.With an annual cargo tonnage of 1,74 million, it’s the 4th busiest in Europe.
Schiphol has a cap of 500,000 commercial flight movement per year, including 32,000 night flights (traffic between 12 PM and 7 AM). The latest plans are going back to 478,000 on the day of which 29,000 at night. General aviation includes another 15 thousand flights. The home carrier is KLM.
Noise Pollution and the Community
Schiphol is located in a densely populated area. About 3 million people are affected by the noise. 150,000 to 200,000 people experience serious noise pollution and 20,000 to 40,000 people experience sleep disturbances.
Citizens’ Influence
Citizens are represented in the Civic Advisory Board Schiphol (MRS). The MRS is a legally recognised advisory board from the point of view of local residents of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. This Board advises the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Watermanagement on decisions around Schiphol that affect the living environment. The Civic Advisory Board Schiphol (MRS) focuses on improving the quality of life in the region around Schiphol and gives local residents and civil society organisations a voice in the decision-making process on aviation policy.
There have also been several lawsuits filed against the government. The judge ruled in 2024 that “the State is acting in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to provide adequate legal protection to residents of Schiphol and systematically subordinating their interests to those of aviation.” Incidentally, the plaintiffs are not concerned with how many planes fit in our air; it is about which aviation suits us in the small country The Netherlands.
Governments’ Position
The central government takes the noise problem relatively serious: aircraft noise can cause a lot of nuisance and health problems. That is why the government ensures that the growth of air traffic does not cause too much noise pollution. For example, by limiting the number of night flights. And by trying to bring down the total number of flights.
It is striking that the municipality of Amsterdam is aiming for a maximum of 400,000 flights.
Expected developments
Both the lawsuits and political decisions follow each other in rapid succession. Citizens, airlines, Schiphol, the government and the European Commission are all fighting for their interests. It is not always clear how seriously the government actually wants to protect its citizens or whether people fear legal, political or international consequences.
Members/Friends
Member of UECNA: Platform Vliegoverlast Amsterdam (PVA)
Friend of UECNA: Recht op Bescherming tegen Vliegtuighinder
Friend of UECNA: Werkgroep Toekomst Luchtvaart
Friend of UECNA: Say No to Expansion of Aviation
‘It puzzles me that politicians almost always allow themselves to be taken in by the aviation lobby.’
Wouter Looman, chair PVA
