The Dutch government is moving ahead with new rules that would limit annual commercial flight movements at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to 478,000, including a maximum of 27,000 overnight flights. The measure is intended to reduce aircraft noise for people living near the Netherlands' busiest airport while preserving Schiphol's role as a major international hub.

478,000

Annual Flight Movements

27,000

Maximum Night Flights

15%

Daytime Noise Reduction Target

Nov. 1, 2026

Planned Entry Into Force

New Rules Would Limit Schiphol Flight Movements

Under the proposed Airport Traffic Decree, the Dutch government says the measure is designed primarily to address aircraft noise and improve legal protection for people living around Schiphol.

1Annual Cap

Schiphol would be allowed to handle a maximum of 478,000 commercial flight movements per year, a reduction of roughly 4 percent from the approximately 499,000 currently recorded.

2Night Flight Limit

No more than 27,000 flights could take place between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., about 10 percent lower than the current level of roughly 30,000 night flights.

3Wider Operating Rules

The new rules would also introduce provisions on runway use, noise limits and other operating conditions at the airport.

4Noise Reduction

The government targets a 15 percent reduction in the number of people experiencing serious aircraft noise nuisance during the day, while the expected reduction in serious nighttime noise nuisance is 25 to 30 percent.

5Legal Protection

The new framework is intended to strengthen legal protections for residents living around Schiphol.

6Possible Future Growth

Further growth could become possible if quieter aircraft reduce noise levels enough to create additional capacity.

Government Seeks Balance Between Aviation and Residents

Infrastructure Minister Vincent Karremans has described the policy as an attempt to balance the interests of residents affected by aircraft noise with the economic importance of Schiphol and the Netherlands' international connectivity. The government also says the system could allow Schiphol to grow again in the future if technological improvements make aircraft significantly quieter.

Noise Targets

A 15 percent reduction in serious aircraft noise nuisance during the day, and an expected 25 to 30 percent reduction in serious nighttime noise nuisance.

Quieter Aircraft Incentives

Schiphol encourages quieter aircraft through differentiated airport charges. The share of flights using its two quietest aircraft categories rose to 38 percent in the first half of 2026, compared with 29 percent a year earlier.

Mixed Reactions to the Cap

Residents and Environmental Groups Want Deeper Cuts

The proposed cap has not satisfied all groups representing people living near Schiphol. Residents' organizations and environmental groups have argued that the reduction is too limited to adequately address noise, sleep disruption and potential health effects.

Critics say the government's approach still gives too much weight to the economic interests of aviation and does not go far enough to protect people living around the airport from aircraft noise and sleep disruption.

Airlines Warn of Impact on Connectivity

Airlines have argued that reducing flight movements could weaken Schiphol's hub function and make it harder for the Netherlands to maintain its extensive international network.

KLM has previously argued that noise targets can be achieved through fleet renewal and the use of quieter aircraft rather than by simply reducing the number of flights. The airline has also warned that capacity restrictions could create economic and international consequences for the Netherlands.

Schiphol itself says a balance is needed between reducing noise and maintaining international connectivity, pointing to the increasing use of quieter aircraft as evidence that noise levels can be reduced without relying solely on fewer flights.

A Legally Sensitive Policy

The new rules also come after a significant legal setback for the government's earlier attempt to impose the same 478,000-flight ceiling.

  • 2024A court ruling found the Dutch state had acted unlawfully toward residents suffering serious noise nuisance and sleep disturbance around Schiphol. The new framework is partly intended to address the legal shortcomings of the existing system.
  • March 2026The Dutch Council of State ruled that the accelerated change to the Schiphol Airport Traffic Decree had not been adequately justified and annulled that measure. However, it allowed the 27,000-flight nighttime limit to remain temporarily in place until the broader revision takes effect.
  • NowThe new Airport Traffic Decree is intended to provide a stronger legal basis for the flight limits and restore clearer legal protections for residents.

What Happens Next?

2026
  • House of Representatives debates the decree September
  • Senate debate September 29
  • Senate considers related motions October 13
  • Scheduled entry into force, subject to the remaining parliamentary process November 1, 2026

For now, the proposed 478,000-flight ceiling represents a compromise between two competing priorities: reducing the impact of aviation on communities around Schiphol while keeping one of Europe's major aviation hubs connected to international markets.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The proposed rules would cap annual commercial flight movements at Schiphol at 478,000, down from the approximately 499,000 annual flight movements currently recorded at the airport.

The annual limit would include a maximum of 27,000 commercial flights between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., about 10 percent lower than the current level of roughly 30,000 night flights.

The government says the main goals are to reduce aircraft noise, improve legal protection for nearby residents and establish clearer rules for the airport.

The government targets a 15 percent reduction in serious aircraft noise nuisance during the day, while the expected reduction in serious nighttime noise nuisance is estimated at 25 to 30 percent.

Yes. The government says future growth could be possible if the use of quieter aircraft reduces noise sufficiently to create additional capacity.

Schiphol uses differentiated airport charges. According to the airport, the share of flights using its two quietest aircraft categories rose to 38 percent in the first half of 2026, compared with 29 percent a year earlier.

They argue that the reduction is too limited to adequately address noise, sleep disruption and potential health effects for people living around the airport, and that the plan gives too much weight to aviation's economic interests.

KLM has argued that noise targets can be met through fleet renewal and quieter aircraft rather than by cutting flights, and has warned that capacity restrictions could have economic and international consequences for the Netherlands.

In March 2026, the Dutch Council of State annulled the government's earlier, accelerated attempt to impose the cap because it had not been adequately justified. The court allowed the 27,000 night-flight limit to remain temporarily in place. The new Airport Traffic Decree is intended to give the limits a stronger legal basis.

The revised Airport Traffic Decree is scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2026, subject to the remaining parliamentary process. The House of Representatives debated the proposal in September, while the Senate held its debate on September 29. The Senate is due to consider related motions on October 13.