From 26 November 2026 the way you fly a drone around five Dutch airports changes. In parts of the CTRs of Amsterdam (EHAM), Rotterdam (EHRD), Groningen (EHGG), Maastricht (EHBK) and Lelystad (EHLE) the obligation to involve air traffic control lapses. For film and commercial productions that means faster planning at many locations.
What changes
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW), together with LVNL, has designated new UAS zones inside the controlled airspace (CTR). In part of those zones, contact with air traffic control (ATC/RT) is no longer required. The zones are shown on the GoDrone map; heights are above ground level.
What stays the same
Military airports do not change: Eindhoven, Leeuwarden, Volkel, Gilze-Rijen, Woensdrecht, Deelen and De Kooy stay as they are. In zone 1 — directly around the runway and airport grounds — ATC/RT remains required as well.
- The CTR privilege on the operational authorisation remains required in zones where you are in contact with ATS — not outside them.
- BVLOS inside a CTR is for now only possible in zones with ATS (1, 2b and 4). ATS is not provided within 30 m horizontally or vertically of structures in 2b/4.
- BVLOS in atypical airspace in zone 3 remains allowed with the required permit.
- IenW hosts an online seminar for Specific operators in November 2026 (date to follow).
What it means for your production
- Low Specific work (below 45 m) in zone 2a and everything in zone 3: no flight plan and no RT needed — faster planning.
- Facade, rooftop and structure shots closer than 30 m to the object in zones 2b/4: no ATC needed — a big win for urban film work.
- Zone 1, higher or free flight in 2b/4 and all BVLOS: RT and LVNL planning exactly as today. Skymotion checks the zone per location before deciding whether an RT operator is needed.
How Skymotion handles it
For every location we first check the zone in GoDrone. If the shot falls in zone 2a or 3, or we work in 2b/4 within 30 m of a building or structure, we plan without a flight plan and RT. Where ATC is still required, we deploy a certified RT operator and coordinate the flight plan with LVNL exactly as today. BVLOS remains a full LVNL process.