Flying Into the Future

As drones enter daily life, Vries Strookman and Roel
Brandt reveal how real-world experiments, student pilots, and cross-sector collaboration are shaping Urban Air Mobility in Amsterdam—and why now is the time for the city to plan, experience, and lead.

Interview with Vries Strookman and Roel Brandt, elaborated by Nuria Meerschaert.

POLIS: You have conducted several demonstrations of drone operations. Can you walk us through the latest or most relevant one—what was shown, who was involved, and what kind of reactions or feedback did you receive?

Vries Strookman: One of the most relevant demonstrations we conducted recently was for the Dutch Drone Delta, where we flew drones close to buildings in Amsterdam. The goal was to understand how flaws in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) connectivity could impact drone operations in dense urban areas. At the same time, we explored public perception and the visual disturbance drones may cause.

We tested different altitudes, and the findings were interesting: when the drone flew about 25 metres above a building, most people were not bothered. But as soon as it came lower, people began noticing the noise and found it increasingly annoying. We interviewed around 40 people, and the reactions were quite mixed: some were curious and supportive, while others were sceptical, mainly due to the unfamiliar noise drones bring to the city.

One particularly memorable moment was when a cyclist passed right between me and the drone, forcing us to consider who had priority—a small but powerful reminder that drones will eventually need to coexist with ground-level mobility too. Overall, the feedback confirmed that while public acceptance is still cautious, there is a lot of potential, especially if we communicate clearly, involve people early, and demonstrate meaningful use cases.

Roel Brandt: One of our key projects was De Luchtverbindingen (‘Air connections’), where we tested drone deliveries in Enschede, Dordrecht, and Amsterdam. Each location had a different use case, ranging from fire department support to transporting medical goods and flying socially relevant cargo across the IJ river.

We invited various organisations to participate, though many were not quite ready. In total, about 10 organisations joined, and we conducted flights over 10 days. We also interviewed passersby and found that 50–70% did not even notice the drones. In Amsterdam, more people noticed them and often assumed they were being used for filming. Reports of nuisance were slightly higher there, though in busy areas, the drone noise blended into the city soundscape.

We combined these tests with noise measurements and involved MBO students—the next generation of drone pilots—in conducting public interviews. This helped build early awareness of the social and ethical dimensions of drone operations. Overall, the project gave us a much deeper understanding than flight testing or theoretical research alone could provide.

POLIS: Have you noticed a change in public perception of drones and urban aerial services after demonstrating real-life use cases, such as emergency response or infrastructure inspection? What do you think are the reasons behind this shift?

Strookman: Through our demonstrations, we have observed that public perception of drones improves when people understand their life-saving potential, such as assisting in emergencies or locating missing persons. Citizens are generally supportive of drone use when it is connected to safety, health, or cost savings. It is a very human-centred response. That is why it is necessary to start educating people about the possibilities of drones, at least to get the discussion going.

Drone delivery over the Ij, Antea Group

Brandt: Real-life experiments have helped shape public perceptions, especially when drones are used for vital services like emergency response or medical deliveries. We have learned that while most people are open-minded, concerns still exist, mainly around noise, privacy, and visual pollution. Many people value a clear urban skyline and are wary of cluttering it with aerial activity. There is also a strong sensitivity to the potential impact on animals and nature. That said, real-life observations often show that animals—such as birds and dogs—tend to react with curiosity rather than distress. Still, it is clear that we must introduce drones into urban environments responsibly. For example, in the Netherlands, dedicated medical drone routes now also have to consider ecological impact, and we work closely with our ecologists to ensure drones are integrated responsibly into city life.

Strookman: I would like to add an example here: when we flew drones near seagulls by the river, they were curious for a moment but quickly lost interest and resumed their normal behaviour. These experiences show that, while concerns are valid and must be addressed, real-life interactions often reveal that the impact may be far less disruptive than expected.

POLIS: Can you tell us more about your collaboration with the drone pilot training school? How does this partnership contribute to developing the right skills and preparing a future-ready UAM ecosystem in Amsterdam?

Strookman: What better way to prepare our city for drone operations than by involving the very students who will manage them in the future? By joining forces with secondary vocational education, we give future drone pilots the chance to engage directly with citizens, helping them understand public concerns and questions. This real-world interaction enriches their education, making it more comprehensive and relevant. It also allows us to ask students for their perspectives on potential use cases. Urban Air Mobility is a very complex topic: it involves technology, social dynamics, spatial planning, and physical aspects like airspace and infrastructure.

Brandt: I would add that this collaboration aligns with the Dutch Drone Delta’s multi-helix approach. We conducted labour market research to identify future UAM job demands and realised we must involve students early, as educational development takes time. Beyond drone pilot schools, we also partner with logistics and healthcare students. Through real-world use cases and initiatives like student hackathons, we help them understand hands-on drone operations and prepare them for future roles in a fully functioning Urban Air Mobility ecosystem.

POLIS: How important is it for drone pilots and UAM professionals to understand how citizens perceive drones? How do you encourage them to balance technical expertise with public engagement and awareness?

Brandt: During the flying week in Amsterdam, students from the Drone Academy piloted drones but also engaged directly with the public, gathering feedback.

This helped them connect their technical skills to societal concerns, as they learned that many people are either unaware of drones or feel uncomfortable around them. It was a valuable experience that broadened their understanding beyond just operating drones.

At Antea Group, we also involve traditional experts—like noise specialists and spatial planners—in drone projects, allowing them to apply their knowledge to this new field. This cross-sector collaboration enriches the field and helps build a future-ready UAM workforce that combines technical expertise with an understanding of societal and environmental factors.

POLIS: What would you say are the main skills currently missing in local and regional authorities to play their role within the deployment of UAM services and a relevant UAM ecosystem?

Drone flight research by students, Antea Group

Strookman: Many local and regional authorities are aware that Urban Air Mobility is coming but are hesitant to act. There is a misconception that airspace is solely a national issue, yet once drones operate at ground level—taking off, landing, flying near people—it becomes a local matter that involves public safety, liveability, and urban planning. Authorities sometimes lack the creative and forward-thinking mindset needed to address this shift, focusing too much on the present instead of preparing for future needs like landing zones, flight corridors, and environmental considerations. Cities must move beyond just sensing the change and start seizing the shift. Learning from pioneers like Amsterdam can help them build the necessary capabilities in time.

Brandt: I completely agree. While local authorities are experienced in managing the physical environment, many underestimate how close Urban Air Mobility will be to daily life, with drones operating near people, buildings, and cyclists. Many cities and regions are still not actively planning for this: their long-term mobility policy plans often overlook drones entirely. Authorities need to start now to ensure drones are integrated into cities in ways that support public values. From a planning perspective, UAM offers a rare opportunity: unlike traditional ground infrastructure, which is fixed and historic, airspace for drones is still a blank slate. That gives cities a chance to design drone integration from the ground up, with flexibility and creativity.

POLIS: Finally, could you share one or two key messages or insights you would like to leave with the wider air mobility community?

Strookman: Sense opportunities, seize them early, and build a diverse ecosystem to prepare for drones in the cities of tomorrow.

Brandt: Experience UAM firsthand together with all stakeholders. The future is still unwritten—so let us shape it together to make thoughtful, balanced choices for the future of our cities.

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About the contributors: 

Interviewees: 

Roel Brandt, Manager Mobility Consultancy, Antea Group. With over a decade of experience integrating drones into traffic analysis and asset management, Brandt is a team lead at Antea Group, currently focusing on Urban Air Mobility as a new mode of transportation. Through Antea Group and Dutch Drone Delta, he drives real-world experiments to shape the future of urban airspace within the current mobility system and living environment.

Vries Strookman, Co-founder Amsterdam Drone Lab, and Consultant in Urban Air Mobility.  Strookman is the co-founder of Amsterdam Drone Lab, a forward-thinking public private partnership preparing Amsterdam for a future with drones. With a hands-on approach to innovation, he leads experiments and policy development that blend technology with public perception. Based in Amsterdam, he also works nationally, helping cities navigate the evolving urban airspace landscape.

Interviewer: Nuria Meerschaert, Policy Intern, POLIS. Meerschaert supports the Urban Air Mobility Taskforce by assisting with research and stakeholder engagement. She also contributes to the Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM), focusing on improving business access to cities. With a strong academic and personal interest in aerospace and mobility, she is especially drawn to the intersection of drone technology and urban transport policy.