At least four farms and six businesses will be forced to relocate for a 240-hectare expansion of Lelystad Airport to serve as a base for F-35 strike fighter aircraft
In May 2025, Netherlands Defence Secretary Gijs Tuiman’s proposal for F-35 flights from Lelystad Airport, in Flavoland province in central Netherlands, met with strong opposition from neighbouring communities and environmental organisations. Loud noise from F-35s – single-seat, supersonic stealth strike fighters, are manufactured by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas – has triggered protest and development of local coalitions in the USA, including Wisconsin, Utah and Burlington. Rob ter Haar, a farmer living near Lelystad Airport, was worried about the impacts of constant noise on people’s lives, particularly his children whom he feared might no longer be able to play outdoor. He had visited Friesland to witness an F-35 departing from Leeuwarden Air Base. He did not cover his ears and said he experienced pain and noise in his eardrum for two weeks afterwards. Earlier in 2025 farmers drove around Flavoland in trucks mounted with sound systems simulating the distinctive loud noise from F-35s. Environmental groups warned of disturbance to nearby natural areas from F-35 operations. Piet Molenaar of Vogel- en Natuurwacht Flevoland voiced concerns over effects on wildlife, especially geese. Currently, in the Netherlands, F-35s are only stationed at Leeuwarden Air Base and Volkel Ar Base and the Dutch Ministry of Defence is also seeking more space for explosives exercises, ammunition storage, helicopter training, firing ranges and other activities. According to a report in De Telegraaf minsters had been asked to consider making Lelystad Airport, currently the Netherlands busiest airport for private aircraft and a hub for flight training, into the home base for F-35s as the Netherlands fleet of F-35s was set to increase from 40 to 57 and additional capacity was also required to station foreign fighter jets.
On 19th December 2025 the cabinet designated Lelystad Airport as a future base for F-35 fighter jets, necessitating substantial expansion of the facility for military use. The May 2025 proposals had stated that between 60 and 90 hectares would be required but this had increased to an area of between 150 and 240 hectares to accommodate runway extension and military infrastructure. A road transport authority test track, police academy, driving skills centre, karting centre, model racing circuit and a decorative paving business will all be forced to relocate. The Royal Netherlands Air Force specified a squadron of between 17 and 20 F-35s to be permanently stationed at Lelystad Airport, operating approximately 2,300 military flights movements per year. By October 2025 it was confirmed that expansion of Lelystad Airport to station F-35s, comprising 200 hectares for military facilities and 40 hectares for runway extension, would force at least four farmers and six businesses to move. The Ministry of Defence informed the owners of the farms and businesses that they would have to move to make way for the project. State Secretary for Defence Derk Boswijk explained that the airport expansion is part of the National Program for Defence Space, launched in 2023, and acknowledged significant impacts on affected people along with societal impacts in such a densely populated country. The Ministry of Defence admits that many issues must be addressed before F-35s can be stationed at Lelystad Airport, not least compensation of affected residents and determining flight paths. The Ministry acknowledges that designation of the airport for F-35s necessitates further elaboration of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), additional research of environmental and noise impacts and investigation of the impacts of aircraft exhaust pollution on food crops. Residents will have the right to remain in homes near Lelystad Airport but if they leave the property will be transferred to the government.
