The Dutch air travel tax raises concerns about travelers fleeing to Germany and Belgium
Dutch lawmakers are raising concerns that the planned increase in the air passenger tax could drive travelers to depart from Germany or Belgium instead of the Netherlands, threatening airport revenues. The tax will add about 70 euros on long-haul flights starting in 2027.
The government says that the tax aims to implement the principle of "the polluter pays" and is primarily applied to flights to distant destinations such as the United States and Australia. Parties like D66 and GroenLinks-PvdA support the principle but demand agreements at the European level to reduce the large price differences between countries.
Critics warn that Germany is lowering its flight prices, making the Netherlands relatively more expensive. They say that the high tax may reduce Dutch tax revenues instead of increasing them, as travelers may simply choose to depart from airports in neighboring countries.
Exceptions have been proposed for certain destinations. The Caribbean islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands are exempt, and MP Peter Grinwis wants to include Suriname in this exemption due to the frequent family visits by Dutch-Surinamese. He does not support similar exemptions for other countries with historical ties such as Indonesia.
State Secretary Eugene Heinen (Taxes) will defend the government's plan in parliament on Wednesday to address concerns that the new fees may drive travelers away and harm Dutch airport revenues.