News item | 14-07-2025 | 09:56
The military use of Groningen Airport Eelde is extended. A concept scheme makes it possible for Defense to continue to use this civil airport. Everyone can respond to this from today. The internet consultation runs until 25 August 2025.
Defense sometimes conducts military flights from a civilian airport. That can be for humanitarian aid, support with floods or large fires or for an exercise. This is important for the national security and resilience of the Netherlands.
The military use of Groningen Airport Eelde is currently stuck in the Eelde conversion scheme. This will lapse with the arrival of the new Eelde Airport Decree. That is why a separate arrangement has now been drawn up that makes military use also possible afterwards.
A maximum of 400 military flight movements per year was included in the old scheme. That number was released in the new regulation. It is expected to be around 790 flight movements per year. Fighter aircraft, such as the F-35, remain prohibited. Military traffic must comply with the same rules as civil aircraft. They are about things such as opening times and noise standards and are in the Eelde Airport Decree.
The use of civil airports is important for the Ministry of Defense because practices have to be done under the circumstances applicable there. In addition, allies must be welcome in times of need or for joint training sessions.
What happens to the reactions?
The reactions to the internet consultation are assessed after 25 August by the Ministries of Infrastructure and Water Management and of Defense. The scheme will then be adjusted if necessary and a feedback follows about what has been done with the responses. The final decision is expected in the autumn of 2025.
Separate schemes are made for the other airports as soon as an airport decision is established there. There will also be an internet consultation again for those airports.
Submit more information or a comment? Go to Arrangement of Military Civil Airports on government.nl.