Regional airports

In addition to Schiphol, the Netherlands also has a large number of other airports and airfields, including military airfields. Some military airfields are also used by ‘civil aircraft’. Regional airports, such as Lelystad, Rotterdam and Maastricht are oriented towards business air traffic and offer direct low-cost carrier connections to regional European airports. Small airfields are used by vehicles such as pleasure craft and helicopter flights.  

The Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment formulates policy for regional and small airfields. All airfields have to meet certain rules and regulations, for example regarding their layout and use. The Ministry lays these down in a designation order.

New legislation is being developed for regional, military and small civil airfields. One of the most important items in the bill submitted to the Lower House on 10 February 2006 is the delegation of responsibilities and powers to the provinces. The Lower House has postponed decision-making on the bill until there is a new government.