Flying drones in the Netherlands

EU operators resident outside the Netherlands are allowed to hold UAS operations in the OPEN category in the Netherlands without prior approval from the competent authority. Please be aware of general EU limitations applicable to the class of your operation. For more information go to EASA OPEN category rules and Where can I fly a drone?
 
Besides these general limitations, local conditions apply to the OPEN category. Please refer to the Aeret Drone PreFlight pro app (in Dutch) for more information. Drone PreFlight is a web-based drone map of the Netherlands showing no-fly zones, which Category Open A1/A2/A3 and Specific operators can use to prepare for drone flights.

Next to the geographical limitations, there is also a daytime limitation. In the Netherlands, you are not allowed to fly outside Uniform Daytime Period (UDP). This means that you are only allowed to fly between 15 minutes before sunrise until 15 minutes after sunset.

Non-EU operators outside the Netherlands are allowed to hold UAS operations in the OPEN category in the Netherlands without prior approval from the competent authority.

You do need to register as a drone operator in the first EU Member State where you wish to fly. If your first country of operation is the Netherlands, you can register at the Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer, RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority).

After registering as a drone operator, you might need a flying licence. Depending on the weight of the drone, you need the A1/A3 or A1/A2/A3 flying licence.

• <250 grams: you need to register but you do not need a licence
• 250 grams – 500 grams: you need to register and need an A1/A3 flying licence
• 500 grams – 2 kilograms: you need to register and need an A1/A2/A3 flying licence
• 2 kilograms – 25 kilograms: you need to register and need an A1/A3 flying licence

Important: a toy drone is designed for children up to 14 years old; usually, the packaging indicates this. With a toy drone, you do not need to register and you do not need a flying licence.

Please be aware of general EU limitations applicable to the class of your operation. You can visit the EASA OPEN category rules for more information.
 
Besides these general limitations, local conditions apply to the OPEN category. Please refer to the Aeret Drone PreFlight pro app (in Dutch) for more information. Drone PreFlight is a web-based drone map of the Netherlands showing no-fly zones, which Category Open A1/A2/A3 and Specific operators can use to prepare for drone flights.

Next to the geographical limitations, there is also a daytime limitation. In the Netherlands, you are not allowed to fly outside Uniform Daytime Period (UDP). This means that you are only allowed to fly between 15 minutes before sunrise until 15 minutes after sunset.

You are allowed to hold UAS operations in the OPEN category in the Netherlands without prior approval from the competent authority.

You do need to register as a drone operator in the Netherlands. You can register at the Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer, RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority).

After registering as a drone operator, you might need a flying licence. Depending on the weight of the drone, you need the A1/A3 or A1/A2/A3 flying licence.

• <250 grams: you need to register but you do not need a licence
• 250 grams – 500 grams: you need to register and need an A1/A3 flying licence
• 500 grams – 2 kilograms: you need to register and need an A1/A2/A3 flying licence
• 2 kilograms – 25 kilograms: you need to register and need an A1/A3 flying licence

Important: a toy drone is designed for children up to 14 years old; usually, the packaging indicates this. With a toy drone, you do not need to register and you do not need a flying licence.

Please be aware of general EU limitations applicable to the class of your operation. You can visit the EASA OPEN category rules for more information.

Besides these general limitations, local conditions apply to the OPEN category. Please refer to the Aeret Drone PreFlight pro app (in Dutch) for more information. Drone PreFlight is a web-based drone map of the Netherlands showing no-fly zones, which Category Open A1/A2/A3 and Specific operators can use to prepare for drone flights.

Next to the geographical limitations, there is also a daytime limitation. In the Netherlands, you are not allowed to fly outside Uniform Daytime Period (UDP). This means that you are only allowed to fly between 15 minutes before sunrise until 15 minutes after sunset.

If you fly a drone in the SPECIFIC category in the Netherlands, this is known as a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight. You will need a generic or specific permit for operating in the Netherlands (generieke of specifieke exploitatievergunning, in Dutch). A generic operating permit is not tied to a specific time or place. A specific permit is limited.

Within a segregated or controlled airspace

Will your BVLOS flights take place in segregated or controlled airspace? Then you can apply for a generic or a specific operating permit. Segregated airspace is where additional or different regulations or restrictions apply (temporary or permanent). Availability of segregated airspace is very limited. Controlled airspace (such as a Controlled Traffic Region, CTR) is controlled by air traffic control.

Temporary Restricted Area for BVLOS Flight Operations

For BVLOS operations, in very special cases, you may be assigned a Tijdelijk Gebied met Beperkingen, TGB (Temporary Restricted Area, TRA) as a form of temporarily segregated airspace. 

A TRA for BVLOS operations will only be given: 

• If these are in the interest of the general public. For example, experimental BVLOS flights under the responsibility of EASA, Eurocontrol or the European Commission;
• Where the specifications of a single operation have been announced to the ILT in advance;
• When it has been shown that making use of permanently segregated or controlled airspace is not sufficient to carry out the intended operation. 

You can submit a request by email at iltdocumentmanagement@ilent.nl. Keep in mind that it will take 16 weeks. 

Outside of segregated or controlled airspace

If you want to perform BVLOS flights outside of segregated or controlled airspace, then you may only apply for a specific operating permit. These flights may only be operated in atypical airspace above controlled or sparsely populated territory. You can also apply for an OPEN licence, but only for flights in atypical airspace over controlled territory. In doing so, you ensure that your procedures are appropriate and sufficiently robust for every possible situation.

Atypical airspace is that part of the airspace where manned aircraft do not normally fly. For example airspace within 30 meters of buildings or obstacles.

Drone shows

You need an operating permit to fly drones during a drone show. Also, the following restrictions and conditions apply to drone shows:

• Flying BVLOS is not allowed.
• The drone show may only take place over an area not open to the public (Controlled Ground Area).
• The risk analysis (Specific Operation Risk Assessment or SORA) provided with the application for the operating permit includes an elaboration of the mitigation measure M1 on minimally the lowest level of robustness.

Maximum flight altitude

In the SPECIFIC category, you may not fly higher than 120 metres above the ground or water. If specified in your operating permit, you may fly higher in a-typical airspace (within 30 metres of an object) or in controlled or segregated airspace. To fly in controlled airspace, you need specific permission from air traffic control.

Transponder use in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, flying a drone in airspace other than a Transponder Mandatory Zone (TMZ) does not require a transponder.

Flights requiring a transponder for safety reasons are currently not allowed. Procedures are being developed to allow limited use of transponder for flights for which the air traffic service provider requires a transponder for safety reasons.

The Regeling boorduitrusting (Aircraft Equipment Regulation, in Dutch) will be amended to ensure the use of Mode S or ADS-B transponders for controlled flights will only apply to the planned drone flight or flights.

EU operators outside the Netherlands who wish to conduct cross-border operations in the Netherlands in the SPECIFIC category need an STS, OA or Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC).

The foreign OA should allow for the desired operations in the Netherlands in general. Generic OA’s, rather than precise ones, are most suitable.

With a generic OA, you have more options than with a precise OA. For example, you might have an OA that only allows flights nearby stadiums. This is a precise OA. If your OA allows you to fly over sparsely populated areas, in controlled and uncontrolled airspace, this is considered a generic permit. With a generic permit, you are not limited in your operations.

For example, does your OA state that your company can only carry out flights in uncontrolled airspace? If so, you are not allowed to fly in the Netherlands in controlled airspace. If you do wish to fly in controlled airspace, it is mandatory to change your OA. You can apply for a change with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in your country of registration. In this case, you want to apply for a generic OA that allows you to carry out flights in controlled airspace.

Would you like to submit an application for cross-border operations in the Netherlands? You can use this form: Application for a cross-border UAS operation in the ‘specific’ category. Make sure to send the following information with your application:

• An application form for cross-border UAS operations in the specific category.
• A copy of the generic OA that allows flights for the required operation in general.
• An operational plan that includes identification of applicable local conditions and adapted operational procedures as necessary.
• Relevant sections of the operations manual. Please refer to AMC1 Article 13 (b)(3)(ii).
• Evidence of compliance with requirements related to amended procedures, if not covered by the relevant sections of the operations manual or operational plan. Please refer to AMC1 Article 13 (b)(3)(iii).
• Justification for lowering iARC, (intrinsic Air Risk Class) if applicable.

You will receive an e-mail from us when we start processing your application.

Citizens and residents of a country outside the EU can hold UAS operations in the Netherlands. You do need to register as a drone operator in the Netherlands if this is the first EU Member State you wish to fly in. You can register at the Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer, RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority).

After that, you can apply for an Operational Authorisation (OA), using this form: Application operational authorisation UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System).

You need to send us at least the following information or documents:

• The assessment of the flight operations risks. This may be a Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) or a Pre-defined Risk Assessment (PDRA).
• A list of mitigation measures proposed by you as a UAS operator. You ensure that all information provided can be assessed for adequacy by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate.
• A Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and an operational manual if required by the risk and complexity of the flight operation.
• Evidence of suitable insurance.

Do you wish to leave the application for an OA to another party, such as a consultant? If so, you can issue an authorisation for this, using this authorisation form. You can authorise the following activities:

• Applying for or changing an operating licence.
• Applying for or changing a Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC).
• Applying for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights.
• Applying for waivers.

For a drone or a flight operated in the ‘specific’ category, you can use the EASA standard scenario (STS). In order to do so, you must fill in an operational declaration and submit it to the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). 

Please note: you can only make use of an EASA standard scenario as of 1 January 2024.

Requirements for standard scenario flights

Before you can submit the operational declaration of compliance with a standard scenario to the ILT, you need to apply for an operator number with the Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer, RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority).

For standard scenario flights, you must meet the following conditions:

• It must be a UAS flight with:
  • maximum characteristic dimension up to 3 metres in VLOS over controlled ground area except over assemblies of people;
  • maximum characteristic dimension up to 1 metre in VLOS over controlled ground area except over assemblies of people
  • maximum characteristic dimension up to 1 metre in BVLOS over sparsely populated areas;
  • maximum characteristic dimension up to 3 metres in BVLOS over controlled ground area;
• The flight must be performed below 120 metres from the closest point of the surface of the earth;
• The flight must be performed in:
  • uncontrolled airspace (class F or G) or;
  • controlled airspace, in accordance with published procedures for the area of operation.

UAS operators holding an LUC are not required to submit the declaration.

Completing the operational declaration of compliance with a standard scenario

As of 1 January 2024, you can use 2 standard scenarios:

• STS-01: In VLOS over controlled ground area in a populated environment
• STS-02: In BVLOS with airspace observers over a controlled ground area in a sparsely populated environment. 
  Please note: in the Netherlands, this is only possible over controlled ground area or over atypical airspace. For more information, please see Local conditions for the SPECIFIC category under SPECIFIC category on this page.

Make sure all fields of the (Operational declaration of compliance with a standard scenario] are filled in correctly. The ILT will assess your declaration as soon as possible. If it is found complete, you will receive a confirmation and you may perform your flight.

Please note: there is a fee for submitting the operational declaration. You can find the fee in Article 2.17, table 2 of the Regeling tarieven transportsectoren (Transportation Sectors Tariffs Scheme, in Dutch).

Flying in the certified category is not possible yet. More information will follow.

This depends on the category in which you fly. In the open category, you can use the Aeret Drone PreFlight pro app (in Dutch) to see which areas are not accessible for the open category. A good rule of thumb is that red areas are not accessible in the OPEN category. Yellow areas are high-risk areas. Be careful when operating your drone in these areas; consider privacy, for example. Purple and blue areas are restricted areas, sometimes temporarily. It usually contains a date and time when there is an increased risk. Green areas are NATURE2000 areas. You are not allowed to fly here. You can request a permit from the relevant province.

If you fly in the specific category, the Operational Authorisation (OA) allows the desired operations in the Netherlands. Generic OA’s, rather than precise ones, are most suitable.

With a generic OA, you have more options than with a precise OA. For example, you might have an OA that only allows flights nearby stadiums. This is a precise OA. If your OA allows you to fly over sparsely populated areas, in controlled and uncontrolled airspace, this is considered a generic permit. With a generic permit, you are not limited in your operations.

For example, does your OA state that your company can only carry out flights in uncontrolled airspace? If so, you are not allowed to fly in the Netherlands in controlled airspace. If you do wish to fly in controlled airspace, it is mandatory to change your OA. You can apply for a change with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in your country of registration. In this case, you want to apply for a generic OA that allows you to carry out flights in controlled airspace.

No, the Civil Aviation Authority the Netherlands (CAA NL) cannot grant permits in the OPEN category.

If you wish to fly in that specific area, you need to apply for a generic OA at the civil aviation authority in the country of registration. After that, you can apply for a cross-border operation in the Netherlands.

You can use a question form via contact if you wish to apply for a cross-border operations permit in the Netherlands. Please mention that you wish to apply for a cross-border drone operation. Also make sure to send the following information with your application: 

• An application form for cross-border UAS operations in the specific category.
• A copy of the generic OA that allows flights for the required operation in general.
• An operational plan that includes identification of applicable local conditions and adapted operational procedures as necessary.
• Relevant sections of the operations manual. Please refer to AMC1 Article 13 (b)(3)(ii).
• Evidence of compliance with requirements related to amended procedures, if not covered by the relevant sections of the operations manual or operational plan. Please refer to AMC1 Article 13 (b)(3)(iii).
• Justification for lowering iARC, (intrinsic Air Risk Class) if applicable.

In order to improve aviation safety, it is important to report occurrences involving drones. In certain cases, occurence reporting is mandatory. For example, in the event of loss of control of a drone, collisions or near collisions, engine failure and other emergency situations. Occurences should be reported to the European Coordination Centre for Accident and Incident Reporting Systems (ECCAIRS) using the ECCAIRS 2 reporting form. The ILT's Aviation Occurrences Analysis Section registers and analyses the reports. More information can be found at occurences involving drones (in Dutch).