Noise and safety zones around Schiphol limit where new homes can be built, and were last set in 2003.
The cabinet plans to shrink them next year, but research firm To70 found that under current rules they would still block over 24,000 planned homes.
In Riekerpolder and Schinkelhaven in Amsterdam-West, flights to the Oostbaan runway would stop a planned neighbourhood of almost 4,000 homes from being completed.
De Nieuwe Kern near Duivendrecht, where Ouder-Amstel and Amsterdam want 6,200 homes, would need a new design.
The cabinet now wants to raise the noise limits on paper, so 29% of residents in the zone would officially face serious nuisance, above the 25% WHO-based limit.
It also wants a one-off exemption for fixed plans under two flight paths, and a smaller safety zone over Kronenburg in Amstelveen so 438 student rooms can be built.
The changes, due in the middle of next year, clash with the cabinet’s own target of cutting serious noise nuisance by 20% and could lead to new court cases.
Milieudefensie and several other environmental and residents’ groups oppose building inside these zones.
Looking for a place yourself? Check out our guide to finding a home in Amsterdam.