Lelystad Airport plan to host F-35 fighter jets met with strong opposition

Lelystad Airport in Flevoland is being considered the preferred site for expanding the Dutch military’s F-35 jet operations, but the plan has faced strong opposition from local communities and environmental groups, NOS reports.

Defense Secretary Gijs Tuinman has proposed that F-35 flights, known for producing less noise pollution than other military jets, take off from the airport. However, local resistance to the plan is reportedly mounting, including concerns from nearby residents and environmental advocates.

Earlier this year, farmers in Flevoland drove trucks equipped with large sound systems through the province to simulate the noise from F-35 jets. Rob ter Haar, a farmer living 1,500 meters from Lelystad Airport, shared his experience after visiting Friesland to witness the departure of a military jet. "I deliberately didn’t cover my ears. I suffered from the noise and pain in my eardrum for two weeks," he told NOS.

The noise from the F-35 flights is not the only issue at hand. Environmental groups are also protesting the plans, warning that the jet operations would disturb nearby natural areas. Vera Dam, director of the Natuur- en Milieufederatie Flevoland, emphasized the potential long-term impact, citing plans to construct an additional 130,000 homes in the area. “There will be many more residents, and the noise will only increase,” she told NOS.

Piet Molenaar from Vogel- en Natuurwacht Flevoland expressed particular concern about the effects on local wildlife, particularly geese. “Everyone knows that the geese will be the victims,” Molenaar told NOS.

The Lelystad city council has stated that the arrival of F-35 jets should be conditional on allowing commercial flights at the airport. In a public statement, the council made it clear that “the arrival of only military jets at Lelystad Airport is unacceptable” and that the facility must also accommodate civilian air traffic.

Marco Boogaard, leader of the VVD faction in the Lelystad city council, supports the idea of combining F-35 operations with civilian flights, describing it as a “win-win situation” for various parties involved. "We have a suitable airport here. The combination could benefit many parties, but if you just say 'no,' we won't get anywhere," Boogaard told NOS.

However, local farmers like Rob ter Haar remain skeptical, fearing the impact on their daily lives. "It will be nonstop noise: vacation flights in the morning, F-35 exercises in the afternoon, and more vacation flights afterward," Ter Haar warned NOS. “My children won’t be able to play outside because they’ll lose their hearing.”

Currently, Volkel and Leeuwarden are the only locations in the Netherlands where F-35 jets are stationed. The Dutch Ministry of Defense reportedly also needs more space for additional activities, including helicopter training, explosives exercises, ammunition storage, and firing ranges.

The Dutch government is expected to make a decision on the expansion of defense locations, including Lelystad, by the end of this month. However, the plan still faces hurdles. There is no environmental permit in place for the operation of the jets at Lelystad, and the proposal has yet to gain majority support in the Tweede Kamer.