“The uncertainty for farmers is very large, we actually see that we have been locked for six years. But due to all the recent judgments of the judges, housing is also stuck, also the industry and also stipulates Schiphol.”
Nature recovery
Schiphol bought the nitrogen rights from nine farms to get the nature permit. And according to the court it goes wrong: according to the latest European legislation, it should first have been investigated whether this nitrogen space was not necessary for the recovery of nature.
“On the one hand, we are happy that it has been found that the strongest of the strongest applies: that the deepest bags can buy their permits together. On the other hand, the biggest ensures that you can hardly anymore because of the legal swamp in which we have ended up. You can no longer build, no longer drive, no more food. So that makes it very impossible.”
The nature and environmental clubs that insist the lawsuit, responded very happily to the judge’s opinion. “We actually hope that Schiphol is wise and the number of flights will restrict,” responded Johan Vollenbroek from the Mobilization for the Environment (MOC) Foundation. The clubs see it as an opportunity to reduce Schiphol and to have nature restored.
Permit system under pressure
Verduin fears that the new regulations make business impossible. “The entire permit system is not in order, and that is a huge vulnerability,” he says.
“In this way nature blocks a little bit of economic activity. This impasse must be broken. Let the outgoing cabinet continue to work out the legislation and work with us,” said Verduin.