Defense may also want to fly fighter jets from Gilze-Rijen air base. And the surrounding municipalities are strongly opposed to this. They are afraid of even more inconvenience. But due to the war in Ukraine and the threat from Russia, Defense needs more space for exercises.
According to Defense, the security situation in the world is rapidly deteriorating. And that is why it needs more space, Defense reported in December. One of the needs is the possibility to also practice with fighter planes at Gilze-Rijen. But according to the municipalities, this makes it more difficult to get started with energy transition, housing construction and nitrogen.
The municipalities surrounding the air base: Gilze and Rijen, Baarle-Nassau and Alphen-Chaam, are responding together to the Defense plans. They believe that Defense is already asking the maximum from the environment and ’emphatically’ urges not to do even more.
‘Rattle sound’
For years, residents living near the air base have been complaining about nuisance caused by ‘rattling noise’. These are the vibrations caused by the noise of the helicopters at Gilze Rijen air base, which damage houses in the area.
In February 2020, Defense responded to residents of the air base. Construction was not possible in the villages of Molenschot and Hulten, because fighter jets were still allowed to land at Gilze-Rijen air base in the event of an emergency. State Secretary Barbara Visser then promised residents that she wanted to abolish the ‘reserve field function’. “After all, Gilze-Rijen is a helicopter base,” she said at the time.
‘No trust’
But in the plan that Defense is now presenting, the possibility of also using the air base for fighter jets is back on the table. “Gilze en Rijen holds Defense to the commitments of the State Secretary,” the municipalities write. “More activities violate agreements made. This ensures that there is no longer any trust.”
Defense will respond to all protests against their expansion plans in the spring.
HERE YOU CAN READ ABOUT THE NUISANCE OF ‘RATTLE NOISE’ IN GILZE EN RIJEN:
Defense checks whether tableware vibrates from the table due to the noise of helicopters
First victory for local residents of Gilze-Rijen air base: Molenschot and Hulten can build again