Noise exposure in the Netherlands: orders authorising higher limit values by source, 2001
Provincial authorities can, at the request of municipal authorities, issue orders allowing noise exposure levels that are higher than the statutory limit values. Most of the orders issued relate to road traffic.
Orders issued authorising higher limit values for noise exposure
The vast majority of the orders authorising higher limit values relate to road traffic. Rail transport accounts for a small proportion only; the number of kilometres of railway is many times less the number of kilometres of road. Industry accounts only for a limited proportion because many other directives apply and source measures are generally easier to implement.
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.
