During SAIL Amsterdam and the Dutch Grand Prix, additional measures will be taken to keep the busy airspace around Schiphol safe.
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During SAIL Amsterdam (20–24 August) and the Dutch Grand Prix (29–31 August), Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) will take extra measures in consultation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to keep the airspace safe. The aim is to safely navigate the extra air traffic for these events and to regulate drone activities. Both SAIL and the Dutch Grand Prix are taking place in close proximity to Schiphol Airport, making these restrictions necessary. In consultation with the Ministry, temporary restricted areas (TGBs) have been established and modified flight routes have been designed. LVNL will ensure that regular traffic can continue to fly safely and with minimal impact.
During SAIL 2025, the airspace above the centre of Amsterdam, the North Sea Canal and IJmuiden will be busier than usual. Three areas have been designated where neither recreational aircraft nor drones are allowed to fly. The restrictions for the Amsterdam area will apply throughout the entire duration of SAIL. The restrictions on and around the North Sea Canal and IJmuiden will be in place on the days of the SAIL-In and SAIL-Out (20 and 24 August 2025).
Flying without permission is prohibited within the TGBs. Only flights by emergency services, media helicopters and drones registered by the SAIL organisation and a few other pre-approved flights will be granted permission by LVNL. Recreational flying with sports aircraft and drones is not permitted and is punishable by law.
In the run-up to and during the Dutch Grand Prix, LVNL will again use special flight routes around the Zandvoort circuit. These are intended to manage the extra air traffic generated by the racing event safely and efficiently.
The routes are designed to take protected nature areas into account and are only accessible to pre-approved flights, such as helicopters flying to and from Zandvoort on behalf of the organisation. These helicopters may only fly via pre-determined points and must have a valid exemption.
From 29 to 31 August, a TGB will be established in the area above the circuit, the dune area and a section of the North Sea. These will only be accessible to police and trauma helicopters, advertising tow flights and commercial photo and sightseeing flights following a fixed route. The area will then be closed to recreational air traffic, such as sports aircraft, drones and balloons.
The adjusted measures should contribute to the safe running of the events and limit the impact on the surrounding area. LVNL may decide at any time to temporarily close a TGB completely, including for event-related traffic, in the event of conflicts with traffic handling at Schiphol.
All measures have been coordinated in close consultation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the police, the coastguard and other parties involved.
