Drone Laws - Netherlands
Permission is required for recreational and commercial drone operators in Netherlands (Holland)
Rules for Recreational drones flying (EN)Rules for Commercial drone flying (EN)
Application for RPAS Operator Certificate (ROC)
Recreational drone operators
The most important rules for the recreational use of drones are as follows:
- A private drone must not weigh more than 25kg (including cargo).
- There are places where you are not allowed to fly a drone, such as over crowds or built-up areas or in the vicinity of airports and other no-fly zones.
- You must always keep the drone in view.
- You are not permitted to fly higher than 120 metres, either above the ground or over water.
- You are not permitted to fly in the dark.
- You must always yield to other aircraft, such as aeroplanes, helicopters and gliders. This means that you must land immediately if you see an aircraft approaching. You should also stay away from accident scenes, since a drone can get in the way of emergency and police helicopters.
- You can use your drone to take aerial photographs for personal use. This is considered ‘recreational use’. However, you are not allowed to violate other people’s privacy. For example, you are not permitted to secretly film someone. If you want to film or photograph a person, you must first get their permission.
- You can find all the rules on the use of drones in the Model Aircraft Order (in Dutch).
Commercial Drone Operators
If you use your drone to make money, you must observe the rules pertaining to commercial (professional) use. The rules that apply to commercial users differ from those applying to people who fly a drone as a hobby. ‘Commercial use’ means that you make money from using your drone. Some examples:
- taking aerial photos for a video production company;
- making a promotional video for your business;
- using a drone in your business operations. This might be the case for inspection companies that need to view sites that are difficult to access.
Disclaimer: While all care and attention is taken to ensure the information provided is correct, it is the responsibility of the user to verify the information and conditions with the relevant civil aviation authority.