Politics · Netherlands · 20 hrs ago
Four farms and six businesses must make way for Lelystad Airport expansion
The Dutch government says four farms and six businesses must leave near Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands.
The military needs more space there to station F-35 fighter jets and support more flying, training and maintenance.
The planned expansion has grown from 150 hectares to 240 hectares, including land for a longer runway.
Officials say they will help the affected families and businesses with relocation or compensation.
The airport still lacks a required nature permit, and a decision on that permit is still pending.
A court has said the government must decide on the permit by the end of this year, while the government’s plans say the expansion must meet legal requirements.
Four farms and six other businesses must make way for the planned military expansion of Lelystad Airport.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence says it needs more space to station F-35 fighter jets and support their training and maintenance.
The airport expansion is now planned to cover 240 hectares, up from an earlier 150-hectare plan.
The affected families and businesses have been informed and may receive help with relocation or compensation.
The airport does not yet have a nature permit, and a decision on its existing application is still pending.
- Who
- Four farm families and six other businesses near Lelystad Airport are affected.
- What
- They must make way for the airport’s military expansion.
- When
- They were informed on 16 October 2026.
- Where
- Lelystad Airport, in the Netherlands.
- Why
- The Ministry of Defence says it needs more space to station F-35s and support their training and maintenance.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The government’s preliminary plan called for an expansion of 150 hectares.
The government announced that four farms and six businesses must make way, and that the planned expansion had increased to 240 hectares.
- Affected farms
- 4
- Affected other businesses
- 6
- Planned expansion
- 240 hectares
- Earlier planned expansion
- 150 hectares
- Runway extension
- 40 hectares of the expansion
- Nature permit
- Application pending; no permit has been granted
6 sources
Gezinnen en bedrijven moeten wijken voor uitbreiding van Lelystad Airport vanwege F-35’s
Bedrijven bij Lelystad Airport moeten wijken voor Defensie
Huizen en bedrijven Lelystad moeten wijken voor uitbreiding F‑35‑vliegveld
Boerderijen en andere bedrijven moeten plaatsmaken voor Lelystad Airport: ‘Gaan ze goed begeleiden’
Boerderijen en bedrijven moeten weg voor uitbreiding defensie bij Lelystad Airport
Gezinnen en bedrijven bij vliegveld Lelystad moeten weg vanwege uitbreiding defensie
What people are saying
I understand very well that this is a terrible message.
In a densely populated country, that has an enormous impact on society. Our choices are the result of a careful weighing of military necessity and the interests of the surrounding area.
We cannot wait for that and only do this afterwards. That would take too long.