Rotterdam and Eindhoven airports ordered to obtain nature permits

A court has ruled that both Rotterdam Airport and Eindhoven Airport must obtain nature permits. The government previously argued that such permits were not required, but that position was contested by environmental groups and local residents.

The case centers on nitrogen emissions from the two airports. According to the court, the exemption granted by former Minister for Nature and Nitrogen Christianne van der Wal, allowing operations without a permit, only applies if the activities qualify as the same project as earlier. Because both airports have expanded, they are now regarded as new projects and fall outside that exemption.

Van der Wal previously set a ceiling on nitrogen emissions from the airports’ aviation activity, based on their then-current self-reported emission levels. That cap will now also be scrapped.

Minister of Agriculture Jaimi van Essen must decide within eight weeks whether enforcement action will be taken against the airports, according to the Gelderland court. This obligation also applies to the planned expansion of Lelystad Airport, which already lacks a nature permit.

Schiphol has also been operating without a nature permit since it was struck down last year. The Cabinet decided last autumn that the airport can continue for another two years despite the absence of a permit.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture declined to comment on the substance of the ruling, saying: “We are currently reviewing the decision.”