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

The Civic Advisory Board Schiphol (MRS) is a legally recognised advisory board from the point of view of local residents of the Schiphol area. This Board advises the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management on decisions around Schiphol that affect the living environment.

Key issues:

• Improving the Living Environment Around Schiphol
  The Civic Advisory Board Schiphol (Maatschappelijke Raad Schiphol – MRS) is committed to improving the quality of life for residents living near Schiphol Airport. The negative effects of the airport on health, space, and the environment must be addressed.
• A Balanced Size for Schiphol
  Aircraft cause noise disturbance and health problems. The MRS advocates for fewer transfer flights. A balanced Schiphol is essential for the health of local residents and will also make future housing development possible.
• Reducing Noise Pollution
  The MRS calls for noise levels around Schiphol to be reduced to meet the maximum guideline values set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Night Closure of Schiphol
  Night flights disrupt residents’ sleep and harm health. The MRS proposes closing Schiphol between 23:00 and 07:00 to prevent sleep disturbance.
• Research into Better Health
  Aviation contributes to air and soil pollution. The MRS calls for more research into the health effects of pollution around Schiphol and for the use of sulfur-free kerosene to reduce harmful emissions.
• Legal Protection and Enforcement
  Residents must be better protected against noise pollution. The MRS urges strict enforcement of noise standards and more monitoring points to ensure compliance. The government must guarantee a “fair balance” for local residents.
• Support for Local Residents
  Residents experiencing disturbance should receive active government support, for example through compensation or facade insulation programs. These measures should be regularly monitored and adjusted where necessary.
• Independent Complaint Registration
  An independent body should be established to register and analyze residents’ complaints. This ensures complaints are taken seriously and helps improve aviation policies.
• Climate Policy for Aviation
  Aviation is a major polluter but currently falls outside the Dutch Climate Act. The MRS believes aviation should contribute to achieving national climate goals — for example, by including the aviation sector in the Climate Act and introducing a CO₂ cap per airport.
• Alternatives to Air Travel
  To reduce dependency on air travel, the MRS advocates for better and more attractive alternatives such as international train and bus connections. Improved organization of these alternatives will make sustainable travel easier and more appealing.

With these measures, the MRS strives for a healthy and sustainable future for residents around Schiphol — with stronger legal protection and less harm to the living environment.

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