Flying a drone in the Netherlands: the regulations guide

1 · The open category

The European regulation applies in the Netherlands; the ministry’s portal veiligdronevliegen.nl presents it, and the ILT (the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate) supervises. In the open category, no authorisation is needed, but the rules must be followed — see the European framework:

• ▸A1 — classes C0 (under 250 g) and C1 (under 900 g).
• ▸A2 — class C2 (under 4 kg): 30 m from uninvolved people, 5 m with slow mode (European regulation).
• ▸A3 — classes C3 and C4 (under 25 kg): at least 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.

• ▸Height: always below 120 m. Sight: the drone stays in sight throughout the flight, except for exceptions under conditions, for example with an observer.
• ▸At night: “Vlieg alleen overdag” (fly only in daylight). The ILT specifies that flying in sight is not possible in the dark (visual flight rules); a derogation exists only in the specific category. This is a Dutch rule to bear in mind for anyone who might fly elsewhere with a flashing light.
• ▸Drones without a class placed on the market before 1 January 2024: A1 or A3 under conditions.
• ▸Age: 16 years in general. Under 16, flying is under the supervision of a person over 16 who holds a certificate; no minimum age for a toy or certain C0 drones.

2 · Zones: places closed to leisure flying

Before every flight, the official maps are consulted, such as GoDrone (LVNL) and the Aeret viewer. The portal lists what is prohibited in the open category:

• ▸Over public buildings, military sites and training grounds, events or temporarily closed areas.
• ▸Over roads limited to 80 km/h or more and railways.
• ▸Around airports: in control zones (CTR), open-category flying is generally not permitted (LVNL). The portal announces that the rules around Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Groningen, Maastricht and Lelystad change from 26 November 2026: it should be consulted.
• ▸Certain Natura 2000 zones: the province or the site manager decides. Also: hospital helipads, high-voltage lines, drinking water zones, large seaports, businesses handling hazardous substances, secured sites, emergency response sites, low-altitude flight corridors and zones.
• ▸In low-altitude flight zones, an A1 drone of up to 250 g or an A2 drone of up to 4 kg may fly up to 30 m above the ground.

⚠️ Glydar’s map does not display the Netherlands’ regulations: the official maps prevail, to be checked before every flight — see coverage, country by country.

3 · Registration, certificate and insurance

• ▸Operator number (RDW): mandatory for a drone with a camera or of 250 g or more; toys under 250 g are exempt. It costs €23 and is stuck on the drone. The validity period is not given on the pages consulted.
• ▸Pilot certificate (the European “vliegbewijs”, A1/A3 or A2): required from 250 g, valid for five years; the application to the RDW costs €10. For a lighter drone, it is not required.
• ▸Insurance: compulsory from 20 kg under European regulations; the RDW strongly recommends it below that. No minimum amount is given.
• ▸Remote identification: for classes C1, C2 and C3; not for a C0 under 250 g.

4 · FPV and immersive flying

The current national pages do not mention FPV. The European regulation and a 2021 ministry brochure say the same thing: with video goggles, an observer stands next to the pilot, keeps an eye on the drone and its surroundings, and warns the pilot. Without an observer, the flight is out of sight. And, in the Netherlands, in daylight only.

5 · Before every flight

• ▸Consult GoDrone or the Aeret viewer: roads, railways, airports, Natura 2000, events.
• ▸Operator number on the drone, certificate if the drone exceeds 250 g, daytime flight.
• ▸Do not obstruct the emergency services; respect other people’s privacy.

This guide simplifies — it replaces neither the official texts nor an up-to-date check. In case of doubt: ILT, RDW, veiligdronevliegen.nl.

6 · Penalties: what the law says

This is what the texts provide, without adding anything:

• ▸Breach of the rules of the European basic regulation designated as an offence: up to six months’ detention or a category 3 fine (Aviation Act, art. 11.9); category 3 is €11,000 since 1 January 2026 (Criminal Code, art. 23). This text is general: it does not expressly target drones.
• ▸Drones: an order (RUHL, art. 3.1) designates as offences the breach of provisions of Regulation 2019/947 — including the open category requirements (UAS.OPEN.050 and 060).
• ▸The public prosecutor prosecutes: for a flight without a certificate, its guideline takes a €250 fine as the starting point. The ILT may also impose an administrative measure to enforce the regulation.

⚠️ No administrative fine from the ILT aimed at drones is given in the sources consulted. These are maximums: the authority decides. They are those of the text on the date this guide was checked (October 2026) — the text of the law prevails, not this page.

7 · Your responsibility, and what Glydar does

Glydar informs; it exempts from nothing. This guide draws on official sources but is not an official source, does not guarantee that they are exhaustive or up to date, and does not amount to authorisation to fly.

The remote pilot remains solely responsible for their flight and its compliance, as the terms of use recall. Everything needed to check is within reach: coverage, country by country, the official map and the texts cited below.