Schiphol again exceeded noise standards, but escaped punishment

Schiphol Airport has once again exceeded the noise limits but will escape punishment. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has said that they are unable to enforce any punishment due to a change made by the minister. The regulator has warned that nearby residents are insufficiently protected due to this.

Schiphol broke the noise limits on three occasions between November 2023 and the end of October 2024. The noise levels were between seven and almost 22 percent higher than the limit.

The fact that this does not lead to measures is because the ILT has been mandated for years to enforce noise pollution in an "anticipatory" manner in accordance with new noise standards.

In accordance with that new enforcement system, planes should be on the lanes that cause the least noise nuisance for the surrounding area, as much as possible. This is why the regulator is not permitted to take any measures against Schiphol if the noise standard is exceeded at a specific measuring point in the vicinity of the airport as a result of this new approach, as per the minister’s instructions.

The ILT warned in their annual report about the supervision of Schiphol that this “current system offers no individual (legal) protection and local protection for nearby residents regarding noise nuisance and sleep disruption.”

A significant issue is that the new approach to enforcement against noise pollution has not yet been enshrined in law.

Schiphol responded by pointing out that the total number of noise nuisance incidents as a result of air traffic decreased last year. The airport said that it is “in everyone’s interest” that the rights of the nearby residents are better protected in a new Airport Traffic Decision. The current police leads to indecision, a spokesperson said.

The ILT concluded that Schiphol also broke the noise limits at one measuring point during the last “operating year” at Uithoorn. The regulator also warned on that occasion that it was impossible to enforce punishments on this and that residents of Uithoorn and Aalsmeer were not protected enough.

In the report on the 2024 operating year, the ILT also addresses the use of auxiliary engines on stationary aircraft. Such an auxiliary engine, also known as an APU, provides electricity to a parked aircraft and emits harmful exhaust fumes.

To protect ground personnel at Schiphol, the APUs must therefore be used as little as possible, but the ILT discovered that there was six occasions that the auxiliary engine was used without permission.