Dutch Beach Rescue Brigades Adopt DJI Drones for Summer 2026, Following Australia’s Proven Model

Growing up in Noordwijk, I spent countless summers watching the volunteer lifeguards patrol our North Sea beaches. Now, those same rescue brigades are preparing to join a global movement that has already saved lives from Queensland to Coney Island. The Katwijk and Noordwijk Rescue Brigades have announced they will deploy DJI drones for beach safety operations starting summer 2026, with training and development guided by Unmanned Valley, the drone test center located just a few kilometers from both beaches.

The project, officially called “Pilot Versterken strandtoerisme: drones voor vergroten veiligheid strandbezoekers” (Strengthening Beach Tourism: Drones for Increasing Beach Visitor Safety), represents the Netherlands’ most comprehensive effort yet to integrate drone technology into coastal rescue operations. Based on the photos released by the rescue brigades, the teams will be operating DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise, DJI Matrice 30, and DJI Matrice 350 or 400 series aircraft.

Why the DJI Platform Choice Matters for Volunteer Rescue Teams

The decision to use DJI enterprise drones follows a pattern we have documented across successful lifeguard drone programs worldwide. In Queensland, Australia, the four-year SharkSmart Drone Trial proved that DJI platforms could detect more than twice as many sharks as traditional nets and drum lines, without harming marine life. Those Australian lifeguards used DJI Mavic and Matrice series aircraft to log nearly 18,000 flights and spot 676 shark events.

The Dutch brigades appear to be following that same enterprise playbook. In the announcement photos, the DJI Matrice 30 stands out with a distinctive orange skin, a modification that serves a dual purpose. The high-visibility wrap makes the drone immediately recognizable to beachgoers as part of official rescue operations, while also making the aircraft easier to track visually against the gray North Sea sky.

Perhaps more significant is the inclusion of a DJI Matrice 350 or 400 equipped with a large loudspeaker payload. This capability mirrors what we have seen deployed in Australia, where a drone with a loudspeaker saved a former surfing champion from a potential shark attack by warning him to leave the water. The Dutch brigades will be able to broadcast emergency messages to swimmers caught in rip currents or warn people about dangerous conditions before incidents occur.

The Capabilities That Could Change North Sea Rescue Operations

According to Harry Admiraal of the Noordwijk Rescue Brigade, “With drones, we can respond faster and maintain better oversight during search operations or incidents above the beach and sea. It is a valuable addition to our existing resources.”

The thermal imaging capabilities of the DJI Matrice 30 and enterprise-class aircraft represent a significant upgrade for volunteer rescue operations. These systems can locate swimmers in distress using body heat signatures, a capability that has proven critical in New York City’s Rockaway Beach program, where drones now deliver flotation devices to swimmers while also providing thermal surveillance.

The Dutch brigades are planning to use their drones for preventive tasks that go beyond reactive rescue. The announcement specifically mentions detecting rip currents (known locally as “muien”), measuring current speeds, and monitoring beach crowding. This preventive approach aligns with the philosophy that has made Surf Life Saving Queensland’s program so effective: spotting dangers before they become emergencies.

Unmanned Valley: The Dutch Drone Hub Training Tomorrow’s Coastal Rescuers

The involvement of Unmanned Valley adds significant credibility to this initiative. Located on the former Valkenburg naval air base in Katwijk, Unmanned Valley has become the Netherlands’ premier drone testing and development facility. The organization recently signed an alliance with the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Ministry of Defense to create the country’s first permanent Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) test area over the North Sea.

Alexander Meij, project leader at Unmanned Valley, described the enthusiasm he has witnessed: “It is inspiring to see how drone technology can be used to save lives and increase beach safety, but especially how much enthusiasm the volunteers have to embrace this new technology and learn how to deploy it.”

Unmanned Valley will support the rescue brigades in setting up their flight organizations, providing training, developing operational handbooks, and selecting appropriate drones. Test and training flights will take place both at Unmanned Valley’s test field and along the coast. The organization’s experience with defense applications and maritime operations makes it uniquely qualified to prepare volunteer lifeguards for coastal drone deployment.

The Regulatory Path to Operational Deployment

Before the brigades can begin operational flights, they must receive approval from the Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT), the Dutch authority responsible for drone regulation. The coming months will focus on establishing flight organizations, completing initial training, and developing operational handbooks that meet regulatory requirements.

This regulatory timeline mirrors what we have seen in the United States, where programs like Ocean City’s DJI Matrice deployment required FAA Part 107 compliance and operator certification. The Dutch approach appears similarly methodical, prioritizing proper training and regulatory approval over rushed deployment.

Rick van Duijvenbode of the Katwijk Rescue Brigade highlighted an additional benefit of the drone program: “We expect not only to be able to work more safely, but we also hope to inspire young volunteers to join the rescue brigade. This technology appeals to a new generation.”

A Regional Coalition Behind Beach Safety Innovation

The project brings together an impressive coalition of regional partners and financiers. The Economic Board Duin- en Bollenstreek, Holland Rijnland, the municipalities of Katwijk and Noordwijk, and Rabobank Katwijk-Leiden along with Rabobank Duin- en Bollenstreek are all contributing to the initiative. This regional investment approach recognizes that beach tourism is an economic driver for the entire coastal area, and that drone-enhanced safety could benefit the broader region.

A kick-off event scheduled for November 5 will formalize the partnership, with attendance expected from Mayor Robbert-Jan van Duijn of Nieuwkoop and Alderman Jacco Knape of Katwijk. The involvement of local government officials signals that this is not just a volunteer initiative but a coordinated regional priority.

DroneXL’s Take

This story hits close to home, literally. Watching the beaches where I learned to swim prepare to deploy the same technology that has proven effective from Hollywood, Florida to New York City to Bay County’s Gulf Coast is a reminder that good ideas in public safety eventually cross oceans.

The Dutch approach is characteristically thorough. Rather than rushing to deploy drones for a single summer season, the brigades are building proper flight organizations with Unmanned Valley’s guidance, pursuing regulatory approval through proper channels, and investing in training that will create sustainable operations for years to come. This is how you build a program that lasts.

The decision to use DJI platforms is pragmatic. Despite ongoing debates about Chinese-made drones in government applications, the simple reality is that DJI enterprise aircraft have logged more lifeguard flight hours globally than any other platform. When your mission is saving swimmers from rip currents, you deploy what works.

I expect we will see more European coastal communities follow this model in the coming years. The Netherlands, with its strong drone innovation ecosystem centered on Unmanned Valley and its universities, could become a template for how volunteer rescue organizations integrate drone technology. The combination of regional funding, professional drone expertise, and volunteer enthusiasm represents exactly the kind of public-private partnership that makes these programs succeed.

By summer 2026, beachgoers in Katwijk and Noordwijk may look up to see an orange-skinned DJI Matrice scanning for rip currents or hear a loudspeaker warning them about dangerous conditions. That is drones for good in its most essential form.

Editorial Note: This article was researched and drafted with the assistance of AI to ensure technical accuracy and archive retrieval. All insights, industry analysis, and perspectives were provided exclusively by Haye Kesteloo and our other DroneXL authors, editors, and Youtube partners to ensure the “Human-First” perspective our readers expect.