Archives Air Base the Peel

In anticipation of the next administrative meeting on November 30, we offer you the attached progress report on De Peel Air Base.

Reason

In 2019, the Ministry of Defense announced that it wants to reopen De Peel airbase to allow F35 fighter jets to take off and land there to practice adequately in the interest of National Security. De Peel is the preferred location because at this airbase noise space is available for planning purposes, while at other airbases this space is not or no longer available. The reopening of De Peel airbase affects a large area in northern Limburg and northeastern Brabant. Municipalities in the region have questions and concerns regarding the plans of Defense. They therefore decided to act jointly in this process. The Ministry of Defense has recently indicated it will first perform a nitrogen calculation to determine whether it is realistic to obtain a permit under the Nature Protection Act for their activities. Based on the results of the nitrogen calculation, the Ministry of Defense expects to make a decision in early 2023 whether or not to proceed with the procedure. This progress report describes the steps taken from the regional common position to achieve the resulting mandate. The Ministry of Defense is required by law to have made a decision on the airport procedure by January 1, 2030. In doing so, the Ministry aims to make a decision in early 2025.

Regional cooperation

Municipalities Venray and Gemert-Bakel have taken a regional position for this file. They represent 13 municipalities and thus 450,000 inhabitants in the region involved in the possible reopening of De Peel airbase. The provinces of Limburg and North Brabant are also connected to this administratively and officially. Both municipalities represent the region in consultations with provinces and the Ministry of Defense.

The regional position focuses on four components:

• Region does not support reopening of De Peel airbase
• The region critically and proactively follows the steps taken by Defense
• The region strives to provide optimal information to residents and business owners
• The region is committed to optimal cooperation and coordination between the municipalities, both provinces and the Ministry of Defense

Program Group

To carry out the task, Venray and Gemert-Bakel municipalities have established a program group. The program group acts in this file on behalf of the 13 municipalities in the region. It is possible that officials from other involved municipalities with knowledge and expertise will join this program group. For the execution of the main task, the program group is dependent on the steps taken by the Ministry of Defense, as a result of which it is possible that the planning and deployment may have to be adjusted.

Result

Administrative cooperation:

This year the administrative cooperation with 13 surrounding municipalities and the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant has been shaped. It has been decided that the mayors of Gemert-Bakel and Venray will act as spokespersons on behalf of the 13 municipalities towards the provinces. Both mayors and deputies of the provinces of Limburg and Noord-Brabant are the spokespersons towards the State Secretary of Defense. As a result, the regional municipalities and both provinces have taken up a good position administratively towards Defense. Constructive discussions were held with the State Secretary on May 30 and September 16.

Official cooperation:

Within the region and with the provinces, official cooperation is a fact. There is structural coordination with regard to the critical and proactive monitoring of the Ministry of Defense's process steps. The effects of the reopening on other major spatial and health issues are also explicitly examined and coordinated with the programs concerned.

Collaboration residents:

Several information evenings have been held for residents (village and neighborhood councils) involving representation from several municipalities. There is regular contact with working groups in the region, where the focus is on informing and sharing objective information. There is also coordination with municipalities in which an active airbase is located, such as Maashorst and Leeuwarden and some stakeholders in Friesland. Working groups and some village and neighborhood councils have been actively involved in the positioning of noise monitoring stations during the experience flight.

Response note cNRD:

Defense's response note to the views on the cNRD has been analyzed. This led to the drafting of a letter to the State Secretary of Defense on behalf of the 13 municipalities involved in the dossier. Here, concerns about the intended reopening were explicitly expressed, in addition to the need for transparency from Defense regarding all procedures. Furthermore, specific attention was drawn to the shortcomings in the substantiation for the alternatives study, which Defence had carried out, and a Governance structure was discussed. This was also the reason for the first conversation with the State Secretary of Defense on May 30, 2022. Results of the conversation with the State Secretary were positive. The following agreements were made:

1. Commitment to transparency by, among other things, establishing official working groups on content.
2. Agreement on a Governance structure in which the region together with the provinces of North Brabant and Limburg can have an administrative meeting with the State Secretary once or twice a year.
3. Commitment that the region will be directly involved in a new investigation regarding the Defense Department's alternatives study.

Plan EIR:

After extensive analysis of Defense's plans and the conversation with the Secretary of State, Defense, at our insistence, held a conversation with the EIA Committee, which reiterated that Defense was advised to conduct a plan EIA that should include multiple alternative sites. This has been taken up by Defense.

CEA research:

The CEA study has been promised by Defense at the region's request. With Defense's agreement, we as a region are drafting the terms of reference for conducting a CEA study. The region has engaged an agency to carry out the terms of reference for this study. The guidance of this agency will be provided by the program group. Defense has indicated it will pay the costs for this firm. In September 2022, this process was temporarily halted by Defense pending the results of the nitrogen calculation that runs from September 2022 to January 2023.

Cooperation Defense:

Administrative cooperation from regional municipalities and provinces with the Secretary of State has been built up in a positive sense. The program leadership of the region has good contacts with the officially responsible program manager of Defense. This enables us to respond critically and proactively to the steps taken by Defense in a timely manner.

Legal:

Research was conducted into application of Crisis and Recovery Act and carrying out a plan EIA versus the project EIA that the Ministry of Defense has for it. To this end, an extensive analysis was drawn up in consultation with a law firm. The result is that there is insight into the possibilities for lodging an appeal, if necessary, as a lower government, whereby the estimate is that - contrary to the Defense Department's assertion - there are possibilities for lodging an admissible appeal. In addition, there are legal arguments to require an EIR plan within the current situation in which the reopening is envisaged. Discussions on this with Defense are ongoing.

Technical aspects:

For the purposes of the procedures to be undertaken by the Department of Defense, various topics are relevant for which the Department of Defense will commission research. Examples are the subjects of noise, nitrogen, air quality, external safety, ecology, flora and fauna, etc. These topics - in relation to aviation - are mostly new and partly unknown. As a result, time has been and is being invested in acquiring knowledge and expertise in order to follow and analyze the content of these dossiers and, where necessary, to comment on and question them. Specialist subjects such as the conversion of Ke to Lden contours and a CEA are technical subjects that are essential for a proactive and critical response. To this end, the necessary knowledge has been acquired and is being shared with stakeholders in parts.

Experience Flight:

In 2020, COVM Air Base De Peel asked Defense to conduct a perception flight over the area surrounding De Peel Air Base. The perception flight was conducted on October 18, 2022. The region's municipalities also asked Defense to conduct an experiential study, with the aim of getting an impression of the possible effects that reactivation could have for residents in a large study area. The preparations were transparent and we played a role on behalf of the municipalities in determining the number of measuring points and their locations. On the initiative of several municipalities and residents, we had measurement points set up by the surrounding environmental services and RUD Noord Limburg in addition to the NLR measurement points. The choice of location came about after consultation with the various municipalities. The measurement results will be presented in combination with the NLR noise measurement report at the end of November.

Communication:

The communication around the procedures of Defense has been set up regionally. There is cooperation from the program group with the communications departments of the surrounding municipalities. Relevant messages are distributed in a coordinated way within the region. A newsletter has been set up and is sent out when relevant new information is available. This newsletter is accessible to all municipalities.

Collaboration GGDs:

There is consultation with the GGD Noord Limburg and Zuidoost Brabant about the position of health and the possibilities to investigate the effects of reactivation. There is coordination with Leeuwarden and Volkel to see if there is a connection here. We are thus preparing to insist with Defense on the right timing of conducting a health survey. Until the results of the nitrogen calculations are known, each municipality is responsible for contacting the inhabitants and for implementing communication within its own municipality.

Deployment program group

Defense is now doing a nitrogen calculation to investigate whether reopening De Peel airbase is realistic. The outcome is expected in early 2023. This means that a limited commitment from the program group is required at this time. Once the outcome of the nitrogen calculation is known and the Ministry of Defense has determined which course they will follow, an official meeting will be held between the Ministry of Defense, the provinces and the municipalities of Venray and Gemert-Bakel. Here the Ministry of Defense will explain which process steps they are going to take. We are awaiting this moment, after which a plan of approach will be drawn up in which the strategy we will follow as a region will be articulated. Until then, the efforts are focused on a limited number of substantive issues such as the KE-Lden conversion, the completion of the response note from Defense to our letter to the State Secretary in early May 2022, involved in the research design for the nitrogen calculation by Defense and maintaining some ongoing contacts and agreements. If issues arise that require administrative attention, the program group will inform the administrators. Each municipality will provide an official point of contact for the program group with whom progress and ongoing issues will be discussed.

Finally, the general process line we follow

Defense is now conducting a nitrogen calculation to investigate the feasibility of reopening De Peel Air Base. They expect to make a decision on this in early 2023. As a region, we are following this process from a distance and will determine our strategy for the future after the Ministry of Defense announces whether or not they will continue with the process to reopen De Peel airbase.

The Ministry of Defense eventually wants to bring De Peel Air Base back into use. This is part of Defense Department expansion plans throughout the Netherlands. The expansion is necessary because of increasing uncertainty and threats in the world. For De Peel Air Base, Defense has plans to allow F-35 fighter jets to take off and land there. This requires an airport decision. On this page you will find more information about the process the Ministry of Defense is going through and how local residents and other stakeholders are involved. You can also find the position of the municipality of Gemert-Bakel on this page.

Potential impact on our region

The Department of Defense will explore three space needs in our region that may impact our environment.

1. Fighter aircraft at De Peel airbase.

Defense needs additional space for 2,300 operations of the F-35. An operation is the take-off and landing of one aircraft. For this, Defense is investigating several locations, including De Peel Air Base.

2. Construction of sand landing strip

De Peel Air Base is in the picture as an alternative location for the construction of a sand landing runway for the take-off and landing of the C-130 (Hercules) transport aircraft. From 2026 this transport aircraft will be replaced by the C-390M. With priority, Defense is looking at Deelen (Veluwe) airfield for this need.

3. Expansion of low flying areas for helicopters.

Our region, along with other areas, is under consideration as a low flying area for helicopters. The proposed location is located west, adjacent to the current low flying area south of Venray and towards Asten / Eindhoven.

The plans

Until recently, the intention was to look at De Peel Air Base only for the temporary stationing of F-35 fighter aircraft. That process has been stopped by the Department of Defense. At the same time, a new process was started to identify the entire space requirement for Defense. This process formally started with the submission for inspection of the Notitie Reikwijdte en Detailniveau(external link) on December 18, 2023.

Until Feb. 12, 2024, the Ministry of Defense has given everyone the opportunity to submit a formal view on the Notitie Reikwijdte en Detailniveau (NRD).

Position of the municipality of Gemert-Bakel

Gemeente Gemert-Bakel submitted a formal view(external link) to Defense on the NRD on February 7, 2024. We have indicated in the coalition agreement that we are against a possible reopening of De Peel airbase because there could be many consequences for residents and (agricultural) entrepreneurs. We are working with surrounding municipalities and provinces on this issue.

Ministry of Defence publishes locations at the end of May

At the end of May 2025, the Ministry of Defense will announce the preferred locations
for expanding its operations. Then it will publish the Draft Memorandum
National Policy Vision Space for Defense (NPRD). At the end of May, the cabinet will take
a decision on this draft memorandum. After that, an opinion period will start.
Residents can also get additional information and ask questions during various meetings.
and ask questions. The locations will become final when the cabinet (expected) at the end of 2025.
expected) to adopt the NPRD at the end of 2025.

It is not yet clear whether De Peel airbase remains in the picture as an expansion location
for the takeoff and landing of F-35 aircraft. This also applies to the other
air bases that are still part of the study. It is also still unknown
whether De Peel Air Base is still in the picture as a location for a 'dirt strip', an
unpaved runway for practicing takeoffs and landings of transport aircraft.
transport aircraft. Defense has previously indicated that a combination of
the F-35 and a dirt strip at the same location is not possible.

Furthermore, the use and possible expansion of a low flying area for
helicopters is a major concern for our region. At the end of
May also more clarity.

When the Draft Memorandum NPRD is published, you will receive a next
newsletter.

Defense asks for more time on Jan. 29, 2025, for the Draft National Policy Vision Space for Defense.

On December 12, 2024, the Department of Defense provided an update on the second tracing of research sites for the expansion of military activities in the Netherlands. You can read more about it in the attachments below.

Attachments:

• News items Defense(external link)
• Space Requirements Infographic(external link)
• Kamerbrief(external link)
• Q&A(external link)

Follow-up steps

The information retrieved will be included in the National Policy Vision Space for Defense. The cabinet will decide on this in 2025. The information retrieved will be considered in the input of Defense for the National Policy Document on Space.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024 from 19.30-21.00 there is a digital information meeting about Space for Defense. You can register online for this information meeting via the website of Defense(external link). You will then receive a confirmation with a personal link to the meeting. During this meeting, Defence will explain the Notitie Reikwijdte en Detailniveau. The memorandum describes the options the Ministry of Defense is investigating to determine the best place or way for the Ministry of Defense to build, practice or fly. They will also tell you more about the time frame in which this all takes place. In this way, they want to help you on your way to possibly being able to submit a good view.

Residents around former De Peel Air Base have expressed concerns about the consequences of flights by the F-35 fighter jet. This is according to the report of research agency Invior. They drew up the document after a survey. It was conducted among local residents in the vicinity of the military site after so-called F-35 experience flights on Oct. 18. More than 5,200 people responded. The reports can be read on the Department of Defense website (external link)

In October, an information evening was held at the town hall in Gemert-Bakel on the proposed re-activation of De Peel Air Base. Here, the Ministry of Defense explained the proposed re-activation. Residents were able to ask questions and express their concerns. The next steps will be taken in the coming period:

• Defence is starting a perception survey in the form of a questionnaire. You can request a paper version of the questionnaire from research agency Invior, Phone number: 085 4860100. The questionnaire will be available from Oct. 17, 2022 from 3:30 p.m. onwards. Results of the survey are expected in early December.
• In the course of October noise measurements will be published on the web page of Defense(external link).

On July 11, 2022 Minister Harbers sent the House of Representatives a progress letter on the "Programmatic Approach to Aircraft Noise Measurement" (PAMV) and aircraft noise surveys. This letter is accompanied by a number of annexes, including the Belevingsonderzoek geluidhinder en slaapverstoring 2020 (perception survey of noise pollution and sleep disturbance 2020). This survey is based on the Health Monitor for Adults and the Elderly, conducted in 2020 by the GGDs in cooperation with RIVM and CBS. For this year's Perception Survey, Defense acted as co-commissioner for the first time. As of today, the letter and the survey report are available on the COVM site(external link).

The parliamentary letter mentions a number of other topics and annexes. Who is also interested in those other attachments can find them on the website of the Rijksoverheid.(external link)

From Monday, July 18 to Friday, July 29, F-35s and F-16s from Volkel Air Base will practice Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM). This involves two or more fighter aircraft fighting each other simultaneously in controlled military airspace. Refueling aircraft have been requested for the entire period to refuel the fighters over the North Sea. On some dates there is no refueling capacity available for the time being and the F-16s are forced to conduct their training over land. A military training area over Brabant and North Limburg (TMA-D) and over Volkel Air Base (TRA 12) has been designated for this purpose. Read more on the July 14, 2022 newsletter.

On Thursday, June 30, the first four F-35s will land at Volkel Air Base. Later this year, six more F-35s will touch down at Brabant Air Base. The launch ceremony is at Volkel Air Base and only open to invited guests. Omroep Brabant will report live on the arrival of the F-35 with a livestream. The overflight (flyby) of the four F-35s, around 15:40, is visible from outside Volkel Air Base.

The first F-35s will arrive at Volkel Air Base. Therefore, there are three information evenings for local residents in the region, also to discuss what the coming of the F-35 to Volkel means for the area. You can register via VKL.Vliegbasis.Volkel@mindef.nl stating your preferred date. The dates and locations for the information evenings are:

• April 19 "De Wilg," Alderman Lindersstraat 11 in Wilbertoord;
• April 25 "Terra Victa," Oudedijk 55 in Odiliapeel;
• May 11 Fletcher Hotel 'Teugel', Bedafseweg 22 in Veghel.

We welcome you with a cup of coffee or tea. The sessions start at 19.00 and last until 21.30.
Read the entire invitation in the news item: Information evenings coming F-35 to Volkel.

This week the Ministry of Defense published the Reaction Memorandum De Peel with an offer letter. This can be found on the website of COVM De Peel(external link).
In the Reaction Memorandum, Defence responds to the views submitted on the draft memorandum Scope and Detail Level. An infographic shows the current stage of the procedure.

Information meetings

On January 19 and 24 there are two digital information meetings. More information will follow in the neighbor mailing. If you do not yet receive the neighbor mailing, please mail stating 'sign up for neighbor mailing' to: informatiedepeel@mindef.nl. As soon as corona measures permit, the Ministry of Defense will also organize walk-in meetings.

Survey

Separate from the Reaction Paper, an intern from the University of Amsterdam, Anne Berendrecht, is conducting a survey of people living in the vicinity of De Peel Air Base with the goal of finding out what the "silent majority" actually thinks of the plans to reopen.

On Tuesday, October 19, the Ministry of Defense will hold an information evening about the switch from Ke to Lden. This is the unit to measure noise around airports. The information evening is in Hotel Asteria in Venray and starts at 19.30 hours. The meeting can also be followed digitally via YouTube(external link). Taking note of what was said during the meeting at a later time can be done via the website of the Ministry of Defense(external link).

Information Evening

The calculation of noise is changing and we are happy to explain what this means

Did you know that noise around airports is measured? This happens frequently because it provides information about the impact on the environment. There is a change coming and it is not long in coming. The unit of measurement is going to change this year from Ke to Lden. In a nutshell, the Ministry of Defense is preparing to switch from Cost Units (Ke) to Level day-evening-night (Lden) as the noise pollution measure for military airports, including De Peel. Lden is a commonly used measure of noise impact from aviation, industry and road and rail traffic. If Lden gives a more reliable picture of the noise impact on surrounding areas, this is a convincing reason for the Ministry of Defense to start calculating in this unit of measurement in the future. If you would like to know more about this change and what it means for De Peel, you are welcome to come and listen to a presentation that will be given to the Environmental Consultation and Information Committee (COVM) of De Peel. Then we will also be happy to engage in conversation to answer questions as best we can. Ultimately, it's about making sure you understand what's going to happen and that it doesn't become a technical briefing that just raises questions. Your involvement plays an important role in this! The information evening is on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Hotel Asteria Venray, Maasheseweg 80A, 5804 AD Oostrum (right by the Venray Noord exit of the A73). Walk-in from 19.00 hrs. At the request of Defence, Mr. Hans van der Vlist will lead this discussion. Mr. Hans van der Vlist (1947) was, among other things, former deputy of South Holland and former dike grave. From 2002 - 2010, at the Ministry of Health, Spatial Planning and the Environment, he was first Director General of Environmental Management and then Secretary General. He then served as plv. chairman of the EIA Commission, the independent committee that advises on environmental impact assessments. He was a member of the Dutch Safety Board until the end of 2020 and is chairman of the Rotterdam Airport Regional Consultative Committee until Oct. 1 this year. NOTE: Measures due to Covid-19 Due to government measures related to COVID-19 for hospitality venues, visitors aged 14 and older must be able to show a corona ticket and proof of identity. We will ask visitors at the entrance to the venue to write down their name and email address on a list for the purpose of a source and contact investigation by the GGD in case of an unexpected infection. This list will be destroyed no later than two weeks after this meeting. This information evening can also be followed remotely via a livestream connection(external link).

The Ministry of Defense has published the following message about the process in a neighbor mailing. If you would also like to receive the neighbor mailing, please mail stating 'sign up for neighbor mailing' to: informatiedepeel@mindef.nl. You can also read more info on the website of Defense(external link).

En route to airport decision to reopen De Peel airbase

Defense is preparing an airport decision on De Peel airbase. This is because we want to be able to use this airbase again in a few years for F-35 fighters and helicopters. Below you can read why this is so important and where we are in the process. We have listed the steps for you and shown them on a timeline in an infographic.

Reuse of De Peel airbase gives noise space to fighter aircraft

Over the past 16 years, many air bases have been closed. As a result, less and less military airport land is available and we have too little noise space for fighter aircraft. Although De Peel is no longer active as an air base, there is still noise space reserved. Sound space that we can put to good use for exercise and training.

Training with fighter aircraft is necessary to meet our task

This exercise and training is indispensable for Defense. It prepares us for situations that threaten the security and freedom of the Netherlands. In this way we can fulfill our task and responsibility: to protect the interests of the Netherlands and the Dutch population. We can only do this if we train a lot and on a daily basis. Proper preparation helps us face threats. That is therefore what makes De Peel so important as an air base.

Aviation decision is needed for reopening

The Aviation Act indicates that reopening De Peel requires an airport decision. In 2019, therefore, the process was started to arrive at this airport decision. Defense is doing this in consultation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The decision sets frameworks and guidelines for flying from the airbase. It thus safeguards the interests of health, sustainability and the environment. Examples include the compensation of nitrogen emissions and other laws and regulations with which we must and want to comply. This is how we keep ourselves and the environment safe.

Ten more steps to go before we can adopt the decision

The timeline shows that it will be some time before the decision is made. First we go through a procedure in which we involve everyone around the airbase: administrators, entrepreneurs and residents. Step 7 is such a formal moment. Then the Draft Airport Decision together with the EIR, the report that indicates the effects on the environment, will be available for inspection. This is an important public consultation moment because you then have the opportunity to express an opinion on the project by submitting an opinion. By the way, you can see that steps 7 and 12 are related. Also good to know. All these steps must be done carefully and that takes time.

The procedure began in the summer of 2019. Then the kick-off was the Concept Memorandum Scope and Detail Level. Meanwhile, we are busy with step 3: the publication of a Reaction Memorandum. The infographic shows which steps we still have to go through. A final decision is expected in 2024. Apart from the formal opportunities for public participation, the Ministry of Defense would like to meet with stakeholders. As soon as suitable moments arise, Defence will seize them and communicate via the neighbor mailing, among others. You can sign up for this at: informatiedepeel@mindef.nl. More information about airport decisions can be found on the website of the Ministry of Defense(external link).

Timeline

In the timeline you can see what is happening when to arrive at an airport decision for De Peel Air Base. The dates are an estimate. The Ministry of Defense informs you in time about the progress via COVM, the website, neighbor mailing De Peel and in conversations with the surrounding area and stakeholders. The infographic with the timeline can be downloaded here(external link).

Due to corona measures, the meeting of COVM De Peel is in digital form. In order to maintain the public character, for a certain time the Ministry of Defense places the audio of the consultation on the website of COVM De Peel(external link).

The meeting of COVM De Peel has been rescheduled to December 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Venray City Council chamber due to the tightened rules surrounding the coronavirus.

Defense has sent the first neighbor mailing.
Would you also like to receive the neighbor mailing? Mail stating 'sign up for neighbor mailing' to: informatiedepeel@mindef.nl.

The date for the next meeting of COVM De Peel is Thursday, Oct. 8, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the council chamber of the municipality of Venray. Due to measures in place around the coronavirus, there is limited public access. The consultation will be available via livestream. More information and the agenda documents will follow later.

Defense has issued a press release on the status of the new airport decision process. (Press release is no longer available).

With a press release, the Ministry of Defense has launched the website about the military airbase decision.
Besides a website with information, interested parties can also sign up for a neighbor mailing.

• Information about an Airport Decision is often complicated and scattered. The site encourages a central place where understandable information can be found, but also where questions can be asked. Click here to go to the website on De Peel Airport Decision Developments(external link).
• Defence is looking for the best ways to inform and contact interested parties. Therefore, in addition to the website, a neighbor mailing is started for the area of De Peel. Are you interested? Please provide your e-mail address where you would like to receive the information. Please mention 'registration for neighborhood mailing' at: informatiedepeel@mindef.nl. Your data will only be used for sending the mailing. You can unsubscribe at any time if you no longer wish to receive information by mail. Your data will then be removed from the database.

Defense has promised to place the letter from State Secretary Visser to COVM De Peel about developments regarding Gilze Rijen on the website COVM De Peel(external link).

Letter to the president and members of COVM De Peel February 2020.

Letter COVM.

On February 13 there will be a public COVM consultation, in which Mayor Michiel van Veen and Mr. Frans Kisters (representing local residents) will participate. The meeting is from 10.00 to 12.00 in the town hall in Venray. On the website of COVM De Peel(external link) you will find the agenda and other documents.

• Aerial photo Ke40
  • The outer yellow dotted line is the Ke40 noise contour.
  • There are also dashes around some of the lots. That means there has been a change in the zoning plan. There is no relationship to the noise contour there.

Links to relevant documents provided by the Department of Defense

• List of frequently asked questions and answers on website Rijksoverheid ( external link)
• Annex to Adecs report on Maastricht(external link)
• Noise protection regulation(external link)
• Motion Eijsink(external link)
• Kamerbrief geluidbeleving flight(external link)
• Report noise experience flight(external link)
• Volkel 2018 flight movements report

Gemert, Aug. 22, 2019

Press release Nomination of village councils for airbase committee member

Nomination of village councils for airbase committee member The Ministry of Defense plans to reactivate De Peel airbase. Around a military airfield, a Committee on Consultation Safety and Environment (COVM) functions as a consultation structure. The village councils of Bakel, Milheeze and De Rips have been asked to appoint a representative to speak on behalf of the local residents. They have nominated Mr. Frans Kisters as a member. On behalf of the municipality, Mayor Van Veen will take part in the consultation for the time being.

The COVM is the discussion partner for the Ministry of Defense in the process of reactivating De Peel airbase. On behalf of the municipality, for the time being Mayor Van Veen will take a seat on the committee, just as at Volkel Air Base the mayor participates in COVM. The three village councils jointly nominate Mr. Frans Kisters. Peter Lucassen on behalf of the village councils: "Frans Kisters is eminently suitable for us because he is independent. Moreover, he thinks clearly, formulates calmly, he does not polarize and is well able to assist in good communication between local residents, air base and municipality. We are confident that he can fulfill his function carefully and with responsibility." Mr. Kisters has lived in Bakel for more than forty years. "Previously I was professionally involved in the ups and downs of our municipality," says Frans Kisters. "Now, with that experience, I can dedicate myself to the developments around De Peel airbase. A challenge I am happy to take on." To serve on the COVM, members are formally appointed by the State Secretary of Defense.

Documentation Defense

During the extra information meeting held by the Department of Defense in Milheeze, the ministry agreed to send documentation. Below are the relevant documents. Click on a link to open a file.

• The expected noise impact of the F35
• TNO air quality study report
• Presentation The Peel (01-07-2019

Extra information evening Defense in Milheeze on Aug. 15

At the request of Dorpsoverleg Milheeze, the Ministry of Defense once again presents the plans for re-activation of De Peel Air Base. So did you miss the first information meetings and would you like to know more? Then come to MFA De Schans in Milheeze next Thursday, starting at 8 p.m.

Due to the closing date for submitting views (Aug. 21), this meeting was scheduled on short notice.

Monday evening, July 1, the Ministry of Defense will hold an information meeting on the eventual reoccupation of De Peel Air Base

Walk-in at 7:30 p.m., start at 8 p.m. at Dientje Wijn in Gemert.

From June 26, the draft memorandum for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) will also be available for inspection. In it, the reactivation of the air base is examined for its environmental impact.

Information meeting

The Ministry of Defense explains the plans for the airbase and for setting up an environmental impact assessment. During these evenings, the organization will also explain the process of preparing the airport decision and how the public and other interested parties will be involved. Naturally, there will also be room to ask questions.

View concept note EIA

Draft Policy Document Scope and Detail Level.

If you would like to see the documents in hard copy, please contact:

• Venray City Hall, Raadhuisstraat 1, Venray.
• Provinciehuis, Limburglaan 10, Maastricht
• Ministry of Defense, Plein 4, The Hague
• Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rijnstraat 8, The Hague (by appointment only, telephone number 070 456 89 99)

Questions and comments can be mailed to informatiedepeel@mindef.nl.

Defense shared a news release titled "More space needed for Defense to ensure safety" on December 15, 2023. The news release is on the Defense website(external link).
More information can be found at:
> Increased use of fighter jet capacity(external link)
> Short and narrow unpaved runway(external link)

The Department of Defense announced preferred locations for expanding its operations on May 23, 2025. De Peel Air Base is no longer in the picture for the F-35. The fighters will go to Lelystad Airport, if it is up to the Ministry of Defense. Nor will there be a sand landing strip for transport aircraft at De Peel. However, the low-flying area for helicopters in the region will be expanded.

The plans are contained in the Draft National Policy Vision Space for Defense (NPRD), which the Cabinet adopted May 23. It lists preferred locations for 57 space needs. These include space for barracks, warehouses, low-flying areas, training grounds and fighter aircraft.

More information can be found at the website of the Ministry of Defense(external link). 

The schedule

Highlighted text: Check out the Planning 2025 National Defense Space Program for more information about the next steps.(external link)

Submit views

Anyone who wants to can respond to the Draft NPRD from May 28 through July 9, 2025. After that, Defense will write a Memorandum of Response. In it, Defence gives a reaction to the views. The Cabinet will then adopt the final NPRD. Defense expects a final decision from the Cabinet by the end of 2025.

Municipality of Gemert-Bakel

Municipality of Gemert-Bakel submits a view, in consultation with 14 regional municipalities. The municipal council adopted this view on Thursday, July 3. The opinion is available viathis link(external link)find.

Information meetings

Defense is holding online information meetings for anyone who wants more information about the plans. A link to attend the online meetings will be provided at a later date on the Defense website(external link). 

There are also information sessions for each province. On June 23 for Limburg and on June 24 for North Brabant. At a later date, Defense will publish the times and locations on its website.