Amsterdam city council has started two legal procedures in its ongoing fight to block the government’s plans to privatise Schiphol airport. The state owns 75.8% of the airport, the council 21.8%.

At the end of September, Amsterdam refused to vote for a change in the airport’s statutes to allow the government to sell 49% of its shares. The government hit back by issuing a royal decree making the council’s decision void.
Amsterdam’s financial affairs executive Lodewijk Asscher believes this is ‘an abuse of state power’ and on Thursday announced that the council will challenge the government’s actions through the Council of State, the country’s highest judiciary body.
The council also wants the business court to examine the state’s role as shareholder.