Fred Smits has been working as a real estate agent in the area around Schiphol for 11 years. He notices that there is a great desire to live in the Randstad and that aircraft noise is accepted. “When I see what is being bought, and how quickly, I don’t think it matters much to a buyer.”
Yet the government wants to protect people against health damage that can be caused by noise pollution. That is why the airport layout decision (LIB) has established zones where restrictions apply to housing construction.
80,000 additional homes possible
But there are experts who believe that more is possible. For example, former Government Advisor Wouter Veldhuis concluded that 80,000 additional homes could be built around Schiphol if the exit routes were adjusted. “Our research showed that it is actually not necessary for them to fly those routes,” he explains.
Moving an exit route does have a disadvantage: because planes have to fly around for kilometers, emissions are higher.