Drone laws Holland [March 2023] [Rules & How to Register]

Drone laws in Holland are some of the most relaxed drone laws in the world. There are only a few restrictions for flying drones in Holland.

You have to be at least 16 years old to fly a drone and you can only fly it during daylight hours. You also have to stay under 400 feet and within sight of your drone, which means you can’t use a first-person view camera.

Drones are only allowed to fly below an altitude of 120 metres, you have to keep your drone 30 metres from buildings, vehicles and people, and if you want to equip your drone with a camera then this requires permission from the videographer.

Drone Laws Holland

If you plan to fly your drone in Holland, you will be held accountable for following the same regulations as anyone else within Dutch borders.

So what are the laws for drones in Holland?

The first thing to know about flying drones in Holland is that the Netherlands has some of the strictest drone laws in Europe.

The Dutch government’s main focus when creating these laws is on safety and privacy.

Drones In The Public Space

From a legal point of view, there is no difference between drones and model aircraft. For this reason, the same rules apply to both. So if you are the owner of a drone or a model aircraft in Holland, you must abide by the following laws:

• Your drone must be visible at all times.
• The maximum weight of your drone may not exceed 25 kilograms.
• You must be at least 16 years old to fly your drone in Holland.
• You may not fly higher than 100 metres with your drone (if you are flying above ground level)
• Your drone may not fly within 50 metres of people, buildings or cars

Drones In Your Garden, On Your Balcony Or Rooftop

You can fly a drone in your garden as long as it is not affecting other people. If you live in an apartment, then you can also fly your drone on your balcony or rooftop that is not disturbing anyone. You are also allowed to fly indoors, but only if there are no people present and the door is closed.

If you have animals on your land, then there is no problem as long as they do not scare easily. If you live in a house on a farm, then you can also fly your drone in the fields around the farm.

You must be careful though that the drone does not enter other people’s gardens or lands unless they give permission first.

Flying A Drone As Part Of A Company

As a drone pilot for a company, you are obligated to register your drone and receive a registration number.

Registration is mandatory for drones weighing 2 kilograms or more, whether they are electric or otherwise powered.

The maximum permitted size of the drone is 25 kilograms.

Drone pilots must be at least 16 years of age and have the legal capacity to perform acts such as registering the drone with the Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA).

Flying Drones Is Fun, But Make Sure You Know The Rules

Flying drones is fun, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t know the rules.

It’s your responsibility to know and follow the Dutch drone regulations. If you don’t know them, you are putting yourself and others in danger.

Here are some basic rules that everyone in Holland must follow:

• You have to be at least 14 years old to fly a drone
• No flying over cities or large crowds of people

How To Register Drone In Holland

Go To The Website Of The Dutch Government

• Go to the Dutch government website (you can find it by typing “government website” in Google).
• Find the page that says “Register drone” and click on it. You will likely have to answer a series of questions first, but be patient as they’re necessary.
• Make sure you’re on the right page. The URL should contain the words “Register drone”. Some common variations are “registering drone”, “drone registration”, and even just “drone”.

Click On ‘register Drone’

If you want to register your drone, here’s what you need to do.

• Click on “Register drone.”
• Click on the link in the menu that says, “Register drone.”
• Select ‘register drone’ from the dropdown menu in the banner at the top of your screen.

Read The Information And Click On ‘next’

You will have to register your drone at the Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer (RDW). These are the steps that you need to follow:

• Go to the RDW website
• Click on ‘Next’. In this section, you will find all important information about drone registration. Read it carefully and then click on ‘Next’ again in order to proceed with registration.
• Here you have to enter your name and surname, telephone number, email address and date of birth. You also have to decide whether you want a personal or business account and accept the terms of use by ticking the box next to them before clicking on ‘Continue’ below them all.

Select The Type Of Drone You Are Registering And Click On ‘next’

• If your drone is between 0.25 and 30 kilograms, it’s considered a ‘small’ drone. You can continue with the registration process by clicking on the button labeled ‘Next’ at the bottom of this screen.
• If your drone weighs more than 30 kilograms, it’s classified as a large drone and you won’t be able to register it in the Small Drone Register (SDR).
• Instead, you must contact Civil Aviation Authority Netherlands (ILenT) . They can help you determine whether further measures are required for operating a large drone, and if so, what exactly is necessary for you to register your large drone appropriately.

Fill In All The Details Of Your Drone And Click On Submit

• You can fill in all the details of your drone on the website and register it.
• Click on ‘Submit’. You will now receive a confirmation message.
• You can print this confirmation message. This is not your certificate. It confirms that you have registered your drone with the Dutch government and that they have received it. You’ll need to take this with you when you fly your drone in Holland.
• The RLD will keep a record of all registered drones for two years after the registration has expired or been canceled

You Need To Register Your Drone Before Flying It In Holland

• Anyone who operates a drone in the Netherlands must register it first.
• Failure to register can result in fines of €95, and €190 if you are caught operating an unregistered drone.
• To register, you will need to fill out a registration form and submit it at any local police station in the Netherlands.

Are Drones Allowed In Holland

Drone Must Meet The Following Conditions

• Your drone does not weigh more than 7 kilograms.
• You have read the rules and regulations of the government.
• You have taken a course to operate your drone legally without putting people in danger.
• You are at least 18 years old.
• If you’re filming, you have gotten permission from the authorities.
• Drones may not weigh more than 30 kg (66 lbs)
• You are not permitted to fly your drone over crowds of people
• You are not permitted to fly your drone near airports, airfields and military bases
• You are not permitted to fly your drone at night
• You are not permitted to use drones near built-up areas unless they weigh less than 7 kg (15 lbs), have a built-in parachute function in case of malfunction, and remain in the line of sight of the operator at all times
• If your drone weighs between 7 kg and 30 kg (15 lbs and 66 lbs), you must obtain a permit from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management before flying it

After you meet these conditions, you can apply for a permit from the Dutch government to fly your drone within Dutch borders; however, before you do that there is one last step: getting insurance for your drone.

In addition to covering damages caused by your drone, your insurance should cover any injuries or deaths that could be caused by it as well as damage to property owned by others and compensation for bodily injuries suffered by others because of it.

Note: If, in order to get all this done, you need a translation from Dutch into English or any other language, contact us! We love helping people understand complicated legal documents.

If all else fails and after taking all of these steps and jumping through all these hoops your drone still manages to break the law while in Holland, some pretty hefty fines await: up to €25000!

The Drone Must Always Be Within Sight Of The Pilot

As a drone pilot, you are responsible for the safe operation of your drone at all times. It is therefore important that you keep your drone in sight at all times and can respond to other people or situations near it. You must always be able to see the drone and assess potential risks.

In clear weather conditions, this is relatively easy. This becomes more difficult in case of heavy rain or fog or when flying behind obstacles such as buildings or trees.

You must also be able to see the drone at all times, even if it goes behind a building or tree.

The Drone Should Be Used Within 500 Meters Of Built-up Areas

• The Drone Should Be Used Within 500 Meters Of Built-up Areas, such as towns and villages. If you want to fly at a greater distance from built-up areas, you will need permission from the local authority.
• You may not fly higher than 120 meters above ground level. You may only fly higher than this if you have permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
• If you are flying in a national park or nature reserve, you will need permission from the park’s management. You can check the Dutch Drone Portal for more information on how to gain permission.

A Special Certificate Is Required To Operate Drones

You can apply for the special certificate via the Drones Portal. This is a system in which you can also apply for your drone pilot’s license.

It is possible to obtain a special certificate when you:

• have a certified drone (Model Aircraft Pilot License)
• have a valid health certificate
• fly outside of restricted airspace without permission from Air Traffic Control

Flying A Drone In Holland Requires Carefulness

When flying a drone you have to keep in mind that not just the Netherlands, but each country has its own rules and regulations. Drones are getting more and more popular, which means the government should set strict rules for commercial use.

On this page we will go into detail about the Dutch drone laws and what you need to keep in mind if you want to fly a drone in The Netherlands.

Drone Registration

If your drone weights from 0,2kg till 30kg than it needs to be registered. The process of registering your drone is not difficult and costs only €13,50 per year per aircraft and pilot. You can register at www.registerdrone.nl (Dutch)

Permission Areas

Mostly when you are flying recreational or with a small drone permission is not necessary, but there are some exceptions on where you can fly drones without permission:

• Flying above people (when they are directly below the UAS)
• Flying above an industrial estate or nature reserve; these require permission from the respective municipality;
• Flying over events such as festivals requires permission from the event organizer(s).

Conclusion

You can fly your drone in Holland if it weighs less than 25kg and you keep it away from people and buildings. You must always keep the drone within sight and fly at least 50 meters from any person or vehicle.

Drones are becoming increasingly popular in Holland. This is not just because many people are interested in them, but also because they can be quite useful. That being said, there are some rules that you need to follow before flying a drone. The next thing you should do is to read the laws and regulations of your country and city so that it remains legal. 

Frequently Asked Questions (drone Laws Holland)

Do I Need Any Licenses Or Permits To Fly A Drone In The Netherlands?

You don’t need any licenses or permits to fly a drone in the Netherlands. You do, however, need to register your drone with the Dutch aviation authority. And you must be at least 18 years old.

What Are The Laws For Filming People With A Drone In The Netherlands?

You need to get the permission of the person being filmed and the owner of the property where you are filming.

• You can’t film people who don’t want to be filmed, even if they are in a public place. Let us say that again: even if they are in a public place, you have no right to film them without their permission.
• You can’t film someone who is in private – even if they are standing on their front porch!

What Is The Legal Altitude/height A Drone Can Fly Up In The Netherlands?

The legal altitude/height in the Netherlands is 120 meters.

This means that you can fly your drone at an altitude of 120 meters above ground level, or approximately 400 feet. You must not fly higher than this limit.

Do I Need A License To Operate As A Professional Pilot In The Netherlands?

If you want to fly a drone professionally in the Netherlands, then yes, you will need a license. The license is valid for five years and can be obtained by passing an exam with the Dutch Aviation Authority.

You must be at least eighteen years old when you take this exam. If you are under eighteen, then your parents also have to give their permission and sign off on your application as well.