Airport Twente: A Problem for the Euregio

A few years ago, the military base Airport Twente in the Eastern part of Holland was closed. Since then, the city of Enschede and the province Overijssel have been trying to turn it in to a commercial airport. Several organisations from both sides of the borders have united to prevent this.

By Gerda Minkjan

Enschede started the ‘Vliegwiel Twente Maatschappij’ (VTM) to explore the possibilities for a commercial airport. This organisation has interpreted lots of data and research, but was accused of being incapable and even deliberately misinterpreting the results. They were not only criticized by renowned scientists and experts, but also by green- and socialist politicians, environmental- and nature organisations and the “neighbours”; the people who will suffer most from the noise and the pollution.

So far, no proprietor has come forward to run this airport, but they want to lure interested parties to Enschede by providing for the complete infrastructure (i.e. expanding the runway so also Boeing 747’s (freight!) can use the airport) and by building an industrial estate and anything else that can generate money. Suggested opening times are from 6 in the morning till 11 in the evening, every day of the year. Thus a wonderful and necessary green area between the cities of Hengelo, Oldenzaal and Enschede will be destroyed forever.

Alternative plans

A number of organisations have had the possibility to work on an alternative plan. The result was a care & cure, wellness & leisure estate, designed by SAVT (Stichting Alternatieven Vliegveld Twente). Sadly they had to hand this plan over to VTM and (as we all feared) the result was that it didn’t get the same treatment as the airport plan and was dismissed.

Organisations involved, like Stichting Hart van Twente, Stichting Lonneker Land, Bewonersbelangen Groot Driene and VOLT (Vereniging Omwonenden Vliegveld Twente) are now at a loss. We are not participating anymore but are now just being informed.

We still try to inform and influence politicians. Sadly, the biggest political parties, who suffered massive losses in the last elections, are trying to restore themselves by preaching employment. Airport Twente is supposed to generate 2700 jobs, but what they don’t tell is the loss of jobs elsewhere, like in tourism, and the fact that most of these jobs are just companies moving from one industrial estate to the other, so they are not talking about new jobs.

Cross border cooperation

In our Euregio, the German cities and citizens were badly informed (and often too late) about the plans for Airport Twente. Especially the cities Bad Bentheim and Nordhorn will be hit by the impact of a commercial airport just across the border. Bad Bentheim is a well known spa and fears less tourists will come and visit once Airport Twente is operational. Nordhorn already suffers from the Nordhorn Range, where the air force is practising dropping bombs, and fears they will have no peace at all anymore when the noise and pollution will double.

Another interesting fact is that the Euregio already has a commercial airport: FMO (Flughafen Münster Osnabrück). VTM states that 2 airports can exist in this area, but scientists and experts are warning that both airports will only suffer losses.

The Dutch and the German organisations fighting against Airport Twente have found each other a few years ago and have been co-operating since then. There has already been a demonstration in Nordhorn and a manifestation in Enschede. Last year we walked 40 beautiful green and still tranquil kilometres from Bad Bentheim to the City Hall of Enschede. We had permission to walk over the runway and were complimented because we ‘behaved’ ourselves.

Last February, we had our first ‘international’ party in an old school house in Holt und Haar, practically on the border. We keep each other informed, have regular meetings and accompany each other to official occasions. First we were neighbours, now we are friends.

More information : Bürgerinitiative Gegen Flughafen Twente

Source photo: http://yuriankone.blogspot.com/