Noise exposure in the Netherlands: orders authorising higher limit values by province, 1997-2001
Provincial authorities can, at the request of municipal authorities, issue orders allowing noise exposure levels that are higher than the statutory limit values. The number of orders issued has fallen since 1997.
Decline in number of orders authorising higher limit values for noise exposure
Since 1997, there has been a fall in the number of orders issued by the Provincial States approving higher limit values for noise exposure. There is not enough information available to explain the trend. It is unclear whether the decline can be explained by the authorisation of higher limit values for longer periods.
Policy relating to noise exposure
A statutory maximum noise exposure level applies to new housing. In some cases, municipal authorities can ask the provincial executive to set higher limit values. Higher limit values for noise exposure can be approved for industry and for road and rail transport.
At present, an amendment to the Noise Abatement Act is in the preparatory stages (VROM, 2003). This amendment will be submitted to the Council of State for its recommendations in early 2004 and introduced in the course of the same year. The amendments deal with, among other things:
- Mandating municipal councils for the procedure for higher limit values. This makes it easier for municipalities and provincial authorities to make more specific local arrangements with a less demanding procedure (deregulation).
- In certain conditions, different maximum limit values can be set. High levels of noise exposure will, in these cases, have to be compensated adequately in other areas.
