Defense is expanding considerably with extra barracks, ammunition stores and more flights. There is understanding among local residents, but there are also many questions. And not all of them can be answered.
Concentrated, a group of a man or five looks at a card on a table. They are at an information meeting of Defense in Lelystad. The contours of Flevoland are visible on the map and there are colored lines on it.
In the middle of the card you can see an elongated figure that turns red, orange and green. The colors show the noise nuisance that F-35s cause when they start flying from Lelystad Airport. The lines are the approach routes.
“I can tell a story here that it doesn’t mean anything, but I don’t do that. That is not the case,” says a defense employee honestly. According to him, there will certainly be local residents who suffer from the noise of the fighter aircraft.
The meeting in Flevoland is one of the twelve that Defense organizes in June. There is one in every province. The evening in Lelystad is busy. More than two hundred people ask their questions and express their concerns. Most people are in the part where an explanation is given about the expansion of Lelystad Airport.
Worries about flying F-35s
Nick from Lelystad is one of them. Together with his partner he has a horse breeding and they are very worried. Defense and the cabinet want F-35s to fly from Lelystad Airport. Now only small planes still use that airport.
Flevoland sees the arrival of the combat aircraft, but only if holiday flights also leave from the airport. That gives the economy in Flevoland a boost, the province expects. Within the now outgoing cabinet there was a disagreement about whether passenger aircraft should fly from Lelystad Airport.
Nick now calls his house and horse breeding “a dream place”. They have invested a lot of money in it and from the airport that is one kilometer away, they now have no problems. The question is what happens when daily fighter aircraft fly over. “Horses are shocked quickly. I don’t want to know how they react when an F-35 flies over,” says Nick worried.
How much will my house be worth?
The Ministry of Defense is given many questions in Lelystad. How are the planes going to fly? Can you still understand each other in the garden? Will it remain calm in the now so quiet nature reserve in the future? They cannot all answer the many employees of the armed forces.
These are plans that have not yet been officially recorded, so not everything is cast in concrete. That entails unrest. For farmers who have to be bought out, and with people who wonder how much their home will soon be worth less due to the flying combat devices.
Nevertheless, the meeting in Lelystad is quiet. There is also understanding for the space that Defense needs in global restless times. “I went to look at the world differently three years ago. I really thought Russia would not invade Ukraine,” says 64-year-old Maarten Vrolijk from Dronten. “Maybe I have been naive. But now I see that the expansion of Defense is unfortunately necessary.”
Defense is Expanding Considerably with Extra Barracks, Ammunition Depots and More Flights. Local Residents Understand, But There Are Also Many Questions. And not all of them can be answered yet.
A Group of About Five Men is Looking Intently At A Map On A Table. They are at an information meeting of defense in Lelystad. The Map shows the contours of Flevoland and there are colored lines on it.
In the middle of the map is an elongated figure that is colored red, orange and green. The Colors Reflect the Noise Pollution Caaased by F-35S When Flying from Lelystad Airport. The lines are the approach routes.
“I can tell a story that it Doesn’t Mean Anything, but I won. That’s not the case,” A Defense Employee Says Honestly. Accordance to him, there will certainly be local residents who will suffer from the noise of the fighter jets.
The Meeting in Flevoland is One of Twelve That Defense is organizing in June. There is One in Every Province. The Evening in Lelystad is well attended. More Than Two Hundred People Ask Their Questions and Express Their Concerns. Most people are at the part where explanations are Given about the expansion of Lelystad Airport.
Concerns About Overflying F-35S
Nick from Lelystad is one of them. Together with his partner, he has a horse breeding farm and they are very concerned. Defense and the Cabinet Want F-35S to Fly from Lelystad Airport. Now only Small Planes use that airport.
Flevoland Welcomes The Arrival of the Fighter Planes, But Only If Holiday Flights also Depart from the Airport. The Province expects this to give the economy in Flevoland a boost. Within the now outgoing cabinet, there was disagreement about Whether Passenger Planes should fly from Lelystad Airport.
Nick Still Calls His House and Horse Breeding Farm “A Dream Place”. They have invested a lot of money in it and are not bonehered by the airport, which is one kilometer away. The Question is what will happen if fighter jets fly over Every Day. “Horses Get Scared Easily. I Don’t Want To Know How they react when an F-35 flies over,” Nick Says Worriedly.
How much will my house be hine in the future?
Defense Receives Many Questions in Lelystad. How Will the Planes Fly? Can you Still Understand Each Other in The Garden? Will It Remain Quiet in the Now Still Nature Reserve In The Future? The Many Employees of the Armed Forces Cannot Answer All of Them.
These are plans that have not yet leg officially established, so not everything is set in Stone. This Brings Unrest. For Farmers who have to be bought out, and for people who wonder how much their house will be worth less in the future due to the overflying fighter jets.
Yet the Meeting in Lelystad Goes Smoothly. There is also Understanding for the Space That Defense Needs in Globally Turbulent Times. “I started looking at the world differently three years ago. I really didnn’t think russia would invade ukraine,” Says 64-year-old Maarten Vrolijk from Dronten. “Maybe I was naive. But now I see the expansion of Defense is unfortunately necessary.”