No plane has landed yet, but the ground north of Rijsenhout has been reserved for an extra runway at Schiphol for more than ten years. This reservation of the second Kaagbaan hangs like a dark cloud over the village. Rijsenhout is graying and due to noise regulations it is almost impossible to build. If you ask the residents of Rijsenhout, there is only one solution: the reservation must be deleted.
“My oldest is 18 and my youngest is 15, you hope they can grow up in a village where they have always lived and where they can start a family,” says one of the residents of Rijsenhout.
The land is in any case reserved until 2024 for the possible construction of a new runway. In the meantime, the question is growing whether Schiphol should grow at all and the municipality of Haarlemmermeer cannot build in the village. Rijsenhout would be in the approach route of the new runway and that is why construction is not allowed now.
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Rijsenhout yearns for perspective: “Delete the reservation of the second Kaagbaan” – NH Nieuws
With all the associated consequences: the quality of life in the village is deteriorating rapidly. From research from the village council it appears that the average income is falling rapidly compared to comparable villages. The house value has fallen by more than 100 million euros in the past five years, and the village is aging, which means that essential facilities such as schools and sports clubs are disappearing.
Dilapidated greenhouses
The village is full of dilapidated greenhouses from the time when Rijsenhout was still flourishing due to floriculture. Residents would like to see homes built on the site of these greenhouses. However, due to the reservation, the zoning plan of the land cannot be adjusted either.
The residents have therefore been raising the alarm about the reservation for some time. Minister Harbers of Infrastructure and Water Management recently came to Rijsenhout to talk to, for example, resident Co van der Laarse: “Harbers could make himself immortal by deleting that reservation, otherwise he’s just another one of the long list of politicians who have visited.”
“We must ensure that new homes are built on the site of those greenhouses”
In addition to Van der Laarse, political parties in Haarlemmermeer are now also speaking unanimously: the reservation of the second Kaagbaan must be canceled so that Rijsenhout can be revived.
Jurgen Nobel, party leader of VVD Haarlemmermeer: ”We must ensure that new homes are built on the site of those greenhouses. Now those dilapidated greenhouses cause crime and there are no new homes, which causes an aging population.” Nobel has been Alderman for Airport Affairs in the municipality for the past four years. However, he has not been able to have the reservation canceled yet.
Future in the hands of Minister Harbers
“I did not succeed in that, but I always argued about letting this reservation disappear and will continue to do so now,” said Jurgen Nobel.
The future of Rijsenhout lies in the hands of Minister Harbers and his ministry. “He will include the decision about the reservation in a package of other issues. For example, we are talking about night flights, Lelystad Airport and making aviation more sustainable.
This afternoon, the House of Representatives will debate for the first time with Mark Harbers about Schiphol, who has been the new Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management since 10 January.