Netherlands Proposes Ban on F-35 Flights at Rotterdam Airport, Capping Military Movements at 350 Per Year
Why It MattersThe proposal signals tighter civil-military airspace segregation at Dutch regional airports, a pattern that could shape future co-use rules elsewhere in Europe.
The Netherlands has proposed new regulations that would ban fighter aircraft, including the F-35, from operating at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTHA), while capping total military aircraft movements at 350 per year. Under the proposed rules, military flights would be permitted only for emergencies, humanitarian assistance, training, and allied operations, with fighter aircraft explicitly excluded from these permitted uses.
The move follows amendments to the Dutch Aviation Act that will remove military co-use provisions from the airport's main Airport Decree, requiring a separate standalone regulation to govern military operations at the site.
Public consultation on the proposal is open until October 19, 2026. The Ministries of Defence and Infrastructure and Water Management will review submissions before finalising the rules, which are expected to take effect alongside a new Rotterdam Airport Decree in 2027.
