Can you fly your drone in the Netherlands?
Whether you can fly depends on your drone, your registration and exactly where you fly. Here is what applies: key rules, no-fly zones and the official sources, in one place.
Regulator
Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT)
Framework
EU 2019/947 (EASA Open Category) + national enforcement framework
Pilot credential
A1/A3 Pilot's License
Mapped zones
952
KEY RULES (EASA OPEN CATEGORY)
- Up to 120 m above the ground (EASA Open Category)
- Register as a UAS operator with the RDW (€23 one-time fee + €13/year renewal fee) if the drone weighs 250 g or more or is equipped with a camera
- A1/A3 online training is mandatory — minimum age 16
- The 14-km CTR around Schiphol covers most of Amsterdam—see the official airspace map
- Always maintain visual line of sight (VLOS) of the drone
- Do not fly over assemblies of people. Rules for uninvolved persons depend on subcategory, class mark and operating conditions; check the official matrix.
- A minimum distance of 3 km from small airports, with a larger buffer zone around Schiphol
- Night flight is permitted under the EASA open-category baseline when the required green flashing light is used, unless a current geographic zone or national rule imposes a stricter condition.
- Nature Areas (Natura 2000): Restrictions During the Breeding Season
- Densely populated urban areas in the Randstad: check local municipal regulations
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence or certificate to fly a drone in the Netherlands?
Two separate things are easily confused here. Registration as a drone operator is required as soon as your drone weighs 250 g or more, or has a camera or sensor able to capture personal data — so it covers many sub-250 g drones too, unless they qualify for the toy exemption. The A1/A3 Pilot's License competency certificate is something else: you need it once your drone weighs 250 g or more, or carries a C1 or higher class mark. A camera drone under 250 g therefore needs registration, but no exam. You get the certificate by passing an online theory test with Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT), and it is then valid across the whole EASA area, not just here.
Can I fly a drone as a tourist or foreign visitor in the Netherlands?
Yes — EU drone rules apply to visitors too. If you are already registered as a drone operator in another EASA country, that registration and your A1/A3 certificate (also A2) are valid in the Netherlands as well. Coming from outside the EASA area, you register once — in the first EASA country where you plan to fly, here with Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT). The Netherlands only allows open-category drone flights in daylight — from 15 minutes before sunrise until 15 minutes after sunset — so night flying is off-limits even though the EU baseline allows it.
What are the most important drone rules in the Netherlands?
The short version: Up to 120 m above the ground (EASA Open Category). On top of that: Register as a UAS operator with the RDW (€23 one-time fee + €13/year renewal fee) if the drone weighs 250 g or more or is equipped with a camera. Also: A1/A3 online training is mandatory — minimum age 16. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in the Netherlands, so always check the official sources.
Where am I not allowed to fly a drone in the Netherlands?
The no-go areas are the restricted zones — typically around airports, prisons, military sites and protected nature. In the Netherlands you can see every zone on the interactive map on this page, and in the DroneKoll app wherever you are standing.
Who regulates drone flying in the Netherlands?
Drone flying in the Netherlands is regulated by Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT). The airspace itself is managed by LVNL. You will find both organisations' official pages under Sources below — those are the links worth bookmarking.
Good to know
OFFICIAL SOURCES
- ILT — Drone Regulations Official Rules of the Human Environment and Transportation Inspectorate ilent.nl
- RDW — Register as an operator Free registration as a UAS operator (valid in all EU/EASA countries) rdw.nl
- ILT — Overview of the Rules Overview of the Rules for Flying Drones in the Netherlands ilent.nl
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Always check the official sources from ILT and RDW and the airspace map from IenW before you fly. This app is a tool—not a legal source. The Netherlands follows EASA regulations.
The app
The whole picture, up to date — in your pocket
DroneKoll shows no-fly zones, weather and NOTAMs on one interactive map — with flight log and checklists built in.
More in the app: Interactive zone map · Flight log · Planning & measuring · Pre-flight checklists
