In the Veluwe, the number of complaints about low-flying combat helicopters increased by more than half last year. A total of 130 reports of unacceptable noise pollution were received.
The number of complaints also increased in the Rivers area, albeit less strongly: from more than 500 in 2020 to more than 600 last year.
“They have no idea how annoying low-flying is. We suffer a lot from it,” responds Annelies van den Brink from Oosterwolde. Broadcasting Gelderland.
Van den Brink regularly submits a complaint because the noise makes her ‘crazy’. “The sound is deafening. You never know when they will come. They can fly here at a blade of grass height, someone once told me. Defense takes that very literally.”
Flights are staggered
The Air Force itself has no explanation for the sharp increase in the number of noise nuisance reports. A spokesperson does say that the training flights with combat helicopters are spread over the Netherlands as much as possible. “In the case of large exercises, extensive communication takes place with those involved through newspaper reports, Twitter and interest groups such as nature associations and LTO.”
But for Van den Brink, that’s enough, especially after a miscarriage of one of her horses. “The animal was shocked by the roaring machines and as a result her pregnancy failed,” she says. She filed a claim for damages. Defense sent a vet to look at the mare. “Of course the doctor did not think that the miscarriage was due to low flying. The claim for compensation was rejected,” she sighs.
The spokesperson is unable or unwilling to comment on this individual case. He does say, however, that an expert always conducts an investigation in these kinds of cases.
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