Netherlands flight tax to rise in 2026, add distance tiers in 2027

Published on Sep 21, 2025, 7:56 am CDT

6 min read

The Dutch government plans a modest increase to the air passenger tax on January 1, 2026, followed by larger, distance-based rates in 2027. Industry groups, airports, and consumer advocates warn the move will make tickets less affordable, weaken connectivity through Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), and shift travelers to nearby hubs in Belgium and Germany. Officials say part of the revenue will fund greener aviation and better reflect the environmental costs of long-haul flying. Parliament still needs to approve the 2027 change.

Key Points

Why it matters: Higher Netherlands flight tax raises fares, potentially nudging travelers to Brussels or Düsseldorf.
Travel impact: 2026 levy rises to €30.25, about $33.00, per departing passenger.
What's next: From 2027, short, medium, and long-haul rates differentiate the tax, with Parliament votes pending.
Industry pushback: ACI Europe and A4E say ticket taxes divert money from decarbonization investments.
Border effect: KLM research signals more Dutch flyers considering Brussels Airport (BRU) and Düsseldorf Airport (DUS).

Snapshot

From January 1, 2026, the Dutch air passenger tax is slated to climb 2.9 percent, from €29.40 to €30.25, about $33.00. The bigger shift arrives in 2027, when the levy would scale by distance, €29.40 for short haul, €47.24 for medium haul, and €70.86 for long haul, or about $32.00, $51.00, and $77.00. Long-haul flights to the Dutch Caribbean would remain at the lowest rate. Airlines and airports argue higher taxes will depress demand through Amsterdam, crimp connectivity, and slow sustainability spending. KLM says more price-sensitive Dutch travelers are already choosing Brussels or Düsseldorf when costs climb. The government frames the change as aligning tax with climate impact and boosting funding for cleaner aviation. The 2027 tiers require approval by both chambers.

Background

The Netherlands reintroduced and steadily adjusted an air passenger levy in recent years, with annual updates indexed by price developments. For 2026, the travel association ANVR pre-published the inflation-linked amount so airlines can price tickets without retroactive surcharges. On September 16, 2025, the government presented its 2026 Tax Plan, including a 2027 shift to distance-based bands that tax long-haul trips more than short hops. Sector groups ACI Europe and Airlines for Europe argue ticket taxes cut airport competitiveness and soak up capital needed for sustainable aviation fuel, fleet renewal, and ground electrification. KLM adds that Dutch families already shoulder €120 in tax on a typical round-trip for four, rising to €200 on longer routes under the 2027 structure. Neighboring policies vary, from Belgium's €5 to €10 levy to Sweden's abolition of its flight tax.

Latest Developments

Netherlands flight tax: what changes in 2026 and 2027

For 2026, the rate moves to €30.25 per departing passenger, about $33.00, reflecting a 2.9 percent indexation from €29.40. For 2027, the government proposes three bands by distance: €29.40 short haul, €47.24 medium haul, and €70.86 long haul, with long-haul flights to the Dutch Caribbean taxed at the lowest band. Officials say differentiating by distance better captures climate and noise externalities on long sectors. The package is part of the 2026 Tax Plan and becomes definitive only after votes in the House of Representatives and Senate. Business.gov guidance projects several hundred million euros in additional revenue from the 2027 structure, earmarked in part for sustainability goals.

Airlines and airports condemn higher levies

ACI Europe calls hiking ticket taxes short-term politics that harms economies and citizens, while A4E says repeated rises serve neither passengers nor the climate. KLM warns that the Netherlands risks becoming the most expensive EU market for air travel across distances, placing pressure on Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) connectivity and accelerating leakage to Brussels Airport (BRU) and Düsseldorf Airport (DUS). Citing consumer research, KLM says 74 percent of Dutch flyers would consider departing from Belgium or Germany if prices climb further, and argues tax proceeds should flow into decarbonization, notably sustainable aviation fuel.

Regional context and traveler choices

Belgium recently simplified its embarkation tax to €10 on sub-500-kilometer flights and €5 on longer sectors, well below the Dutch levels. Sweden scrapped its aviation tax on July 1, 2025, while Germany is weighing a reversal of its 2024 increase. These policy divergences create meaningful fare deltas on family travel, particularly on leisure routes. For Dutch travelers within driving distance of BRU or DUS, the net equation includes airfare, tax, parking, and ground time, but modest per-ticket differences can compound for groups of three or more. Airlines expect more cross-border shopping on price-sensitive leisure itineraries if the 2027 long-haul band proceeds.

Analysis

Pricing is only one lever, but it is decisive for leisure demand. A flat 2026 increase to €30.25, about $33.00, may be absorbed without large network changes, though it continues a trend of higher departure costs out of the Netherlands. The 2027 shift is more consequential. Long-haul tickets bearing €70.86 in tax, about $77.00, add up quickly for families, pushing some traffic to BRU or DUS, especially on destinations where nonstop service and total trip time remain comparable. That leakage erodes Amsterdam's hub role at the margin, which in turn can weaken the economics of marginal long-haul routes. For airlines, every euro steered to taxes is a euro not spent on SAF, newer aircraft, or ground power, which explains their lobbying focus. For policymakers, distance-based tiers align the levy with environmental impact and raise predictable revenue. The practical middle path is hypothecation, dedicating a visible share of proceeds to verifiable decarbonization, for example, Dutch SAF procurement and airport electrification. Transparent earmarks could blunt price-sensitivity backlash while accelerating emissions cuts.

Final Thoughts

If adopted as drafted, the 2027 distance-based tiers will reshape price comparisons across nearby airports. Families should model the full door-to-door cost, including parking, time, and bag fees, before driving to Belgium or Germany for a perceived deal. Airlines will keep pressing for tax revenue to be plowed into SAF and quieter fleets, which could make the policy's climate case more credible. Travelers should expect modest fare pressure from the 2026 increase and sharper differentials on long-haul from 2027, keeping the Netherlands flight tax squarely in the trip-planning calculus.