NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Saturday, hundreds of environmental activists in white overalls attacked a section where private planes were parked and, for hours, sat in front of the wheels of departing aircraft to prevent them from taking off.
Numerous demonstrators were seen being driven away in buses by military police when they moved in. The national network NOS stated that more than 100 activists were detained.
A day of protests in and around the airport hub were organised by Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion in advance of the COP27 climate negotiations in Egypt.
“We want fewer flights, more trains, and a ban on unnecessary short-haul flights and private jets,” Dewi Zloch, a Greenpeace Netherlands campaign leader, said.
There were no reported delays for commercial aircraft.
By producing 12 billion kilogrammes of carbon dioxide yearly, Schiphol is, according to the environmental group, the Netherlands’ greatest source of carbon dioxide emissions.
Numerous additional protesters in and around the airport’s main hall carried placards that said “More Trains” and “Restrict Aviation.”
In response to the protest, Schiphol stated that it supports goals for the aviation industry to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and that it hopes to become an emissions-free airport by 2030.
Airport security military police claimed they had “made a number of detentions of persons who were on airport property without being allowed” in a statement.
In June, the Dutch government announced its intentions to cap annual airport traffic at 440,000, which is roughly 11% less than 2019 levels. They cited concerns about air pollution and the environment.
The government is examining whether to incorporate the issue in its climate strategy after Transportation Minister Mark Harbers told parliament last month that his agency could not manage the expanding private jet traffic.
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