Flying a Helicopter in The Netherlands

Updated 2024

Individual EU country rules are based on EASA’s Rules of the Air for flying in Europe so it is important to understand these basics.

Flight Plans

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, along with the State Secretary of Defence, has amended the flight plan regulations. The key change is the removal of the requirement for VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight plans for flights to or from Schengen Area countries, except in specific cases such as flying through non-Schengen airspace or if the destination country requires a flight plan. This aims to reduce administrative burdens for pilots without compromising safety. The regulation takes effect on July 1, 2024.

More at https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stcrt-2024-13490.html

Off-Airfield Landing

Any pilot wishing to make a landing outside an aerodrome or registered airport in the Netherlands is required to submit a document entitled TUG-exception, which stands for temporary and exceptional use. This gives you permission to create a temporary landing zone. The approval is totally subject to the provincial government of the area in which you want to land. The application is made by the pilot/operator not the hotel.

Types of Permits

1. Location-based Permit for Multiple Uses: Allows for up to 12 starts and landings per year at a fixed location, issued once every three years.
2. Location-based Permit for Incidental Use: For occasional flights, such as during events.
3. Generic Permit: Valid for three years, allows up to 12 days per year with a maximum of 2 starts and landings per day across the province, maintaining a 1,000-meter distance from other permitted sites.

Helipaddy’s recommendation is to approach this regulation in the following manner:

• Decide where you want to land and then identify in which province the establishment or landing site is situated.
• Contact the establishment and get the details of the provincial department that deals with TUG exemptions. It is to be hoped that the establishment knows the details.
• Submit the document to the provincial government – wait up to 4 weeks.

The landing site also needs to meet the TUG exemption form criteria which includes:

• No temporary or permanent ban on civil aviation in the area.
• The area is not a public emergency landing practice area.
• The site is not in a low-flying area, or within 3 nautical miles of a low-flying route (military aviation). This requirement does not apply on weekends or public holidays.
• The area lies outside the Natura 2000 and quiet areas designated in the policy rules.

Where to land in the Netherlands

All landing sites are available to Helipaddy Premium members.

Amsterdam Heliport

Flying in and out of here is easy as the path is displayed in the navigation app (eg SkyDemon). Landing fees are around EUR150 for a small heli plus EUR60 overnight.

Here are a couple of videos to prepare yourself.

Entry and Exit from Schengen

Only the following Dutch airfields can be used to enter or exit the Schengen area:

• EHBD Budel
• EHKD De Kooij
• EHGG Eelde
• EHEH Eindhoven
• EHGR Gilze-Rijen (MIL only)
• EHHV Hilversum
• EHLE Lelystad
• EHBK Maastricht
• EHMZ Midden-Zeeland
• EHRD Rotterdam
• EHAM Schiphol
• EHSE Seppe
• EHTE Teuge
• EHTX Texel
• EHTW Twente