Flevoland revises rules for activities near drone test centre

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Flevoland’s Provincial States revised the environmental regulation for the Mobility and Infrastructure Test Centre (MITC) in Marknesse. Drone test flights retain priority, but recreational, festival and construction activities can still be considered individually and adjusted in consultation with the MITC and the National Air and Space Centre NLR.

Applicants must first submit initiatives to the municipality of Noordoostpolder, which checks them against provincial rules. The municipality’s assessment is then sent to the ministries of Defence and Infrastructure and Water Management because of their responsibility for drone flights. After a meeting with Alderman Van Steen, the province will further discuss how applications should be handled. A motion seeking greater clarity about the customization options was withdrawn, and the regulation was adopted with broad support.

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War & Conflicts

Netl activities can continue under agreements on drone testing

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Deputy Ellentrees Müller said at a meeting of the Provincial States committee that festivals and other activities at camping and recreation park Netl, in and around Marknesse and Kraggenburg, can continue despite stricter rules linked to military drone testing. This is possible if activities comply with the provincial environmental regulations, agreements are made with the Mobility and Infrastructure Test Centre (MITC), and the municipality of Noordoostpolder grants any required permits. The regulations limit the number of people in areas where drone tests take place; a test cannot proceed if there are too many people present. The Council of State recently rejected Noordoostpolder’s decision to allow an expansion of Netl, ruling that drone testing at the National Air and Space Centre, which is to become part of the MITC, served the national interest. Müller said that the importance of the MITC outweighed recreational interests, while stressing that activities were not automatically ruled out. The province said it was willing to resume discussions with the municipality within the regulatory framework. Netl has meanwhile applied for a permit for a smaller expansion involving 100 camping pitches and possibly fewer buildings and accommodation units.

Transport & Travel

Dutch infrastructure funding reprioritisation

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The Dutch cabinet allocated an additional €18 billion for the maintenance and renewal of existing roads, bridges, railways and waterworks. Infrastructure Minister Vincent Karremans shifted money away from new construction and expansion projects, saying safety and tackling overdue maintenance take priority. Funding includes €2.3 billion for replacement of the ageing IJmuiden pumping and discharge complex, while rail maintenance and safety also receive additional funding. Projects including the Nedersaksenlijn and works on the N35 and N50 continue. Other projects have been postponed or lose national funding, including €270 million for expansion of the metro network and RandstadRail between Rotterdam and The Hague, as well as several motorway-widening plans. Karremans said postponed projects will be resumed later when possible. Reports initially said no extra money had been set aside for the Houtrib bridges near Lelystad, but a later single report said funds were made available for both the bridges and the locks after a review of the budget allocation; it remains unclear when work will begin.

Business & Finance

Approval of the Maritime Service Port near Urk

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Flevoland Provincial States approved an investment of tens of millions of euros in the Maritime Service Port outside the dikes near Urk. The proposal passed by 26 votes to 12, with support from BBB, PVV, Forum for Democracy, ChristenUnie, CDA, D66, SP, SGP and one JA21 member. PRO, the Party for the Animals, VVD, 50PLUS and the other JA21 member opposed it, citing the financial risks and the long period needed to recover the investment. The exact investment amount remains confidential. The project is expected to become profitable after 45 years, with loans and investments repaid after 73 years through rents paid by participating businesses. Reports differ on the projected number of jobs, giving figures of 400 to 450 and 550 to 750. The province will seek further contributions from external parties and will report to Provincial States every six months on progress and setbacks. The province, the national government, Urk municipality, the Zuiderzeeland water authority and eight businesses are to formalise their cooperation before a European tender is launched. If no contractor accepts the reserved budget, the proposal will return to Provincial States and the project may be ended. The tender is expected to take about nine months; construction could begin in 2028 and finish in 2031.