The Katwijk Rescue Brigade (KRB) is preparing to deploy drones to enhance beach and coastal safety, in collaboration with the Noordwijk Rescue Brigade and Unmanned Valley in Valkenburg. The drones will help lifeguards detect emergencies and locate missing persons on the beach or at sea more quickly. Equipped with thermal cameras and loudspeakers, the systems can identify swimmers in distress or warn visitors of rip currents. Future applications include monitoring beach crowding, measuring current strength, and detecting hazardous conditions such as rip tides.
A radar system has already been installed at the Katwijk Rescue Brigade’s South Post in cooperation with Unmanned Valley and Robin Radar, providing real-time situational awareness of the local airspace. This enables safe test flights and coordinated drone operations.
Part of a national BVLOS initiative
The project aligns with a broader development in the Netherlands: the creation of the country’s first permanent BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone test zone over the North Sea. The area, stretching between Katwijk and the Port of Rotterdam, will allow long-range drone flights beyond the operator’s direct view — a crucial step for large-scale use in coastal surveillance and search-and-rescue operations.
The BVLOS zone is being established by the Province of South Holland, Unmanned Valley, the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), and the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). Initial test flights are expected by the end of 2026.
