The growing number of geese around Amsterdam Schiphol airport poses a threat to air safety, the safety research council has told infrastructure minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen.

Although the chance of a bird strike is minimal, the consequences cannot be assessed, making the risks ‘unacceptably high’, says the council’s report, quoted in the Volkskrant.
The council recommends ‘quick and vigorous’ action by the government to reduce the number of geese.
In a reaction to the report, junior minister Joop Atsma said it was clearly time to solve the geese problem, particularly following an emergency landing by a Royal Air Maroc plane last summer. The plane hit a flock of geese during take-off and nearly hit a nearby tower during the landing.
People living around the airport say it is not necessary to shoot the geese to improve safety. Planes can avoid the birds with the help of air traffic control and their radar, a spokesman told the Volkskrant.