Dutch Medical Drone Trial Extended to Support National Drone Network Development

ANWB-medische drone – dak Isala meppel

(IN BRIEF) The medical drone pilot between the Isala hospitals in Meppel and Zwolle is being extended until mid-2027 after completing more than 800 flights in its first year, with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, ANWB, Isala, LVNL and KPN continuing the research to support the development of a national drone network. Since September 2025, drones have flown a fixed 22-kilometre route with an average flight time of 14 minutes and operational availability of 92 to 95 percent, transporting refrigerated medication, blood samples and other medical supplies between hospital sites. The pilot showed that drone transport can be a useful addition to hospital processes and had no relevant impact on the quality of the medicines investigated, while also generating practical lessons on weather challenges, technical requirements, shared airspace operations and the safe integration of manned and unmanned aviation. The extended phase will explore broader use cases in laboratory diagnostics, patient care and pharmaceutical transport, helping lay the groundwork for future drone corridors and a nationwide medical drone network.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROTTERDAM, 20-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — KPN is continuing to support the medical drone pilot between the Isala hospitals in Meppel and Zwolle, which has been extended until mid-2027 after more than 800 flights were completed during its first year.

The pilot is being carried out by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, known as IenW, together with ANWB, Isala, LVNL and KPN.

The partners are continuing the research to gather further knowledge on the practical use of medical drones and to contribute to the development of a future national drone network.

The insights gained from the project are expected to help make medical drone transport more widely applicable in the Netherlands.

During the first year of the pilot, drones transported various medical supplies between the hospital locations, including refrigerated medication and blood samples.

The results show that drones can provide a useful addition to existing hospital processes.

The research also indicates that drone transport had no relevant impact on the quality of the medicines investigated.

KPN provides mobile connectivity for drone operations

KPN supports the pilot by providing mobile connectivity for the drones.

During flights, the drones use KPN’s 4G and 5G network.

Through KPN Drone Connect, the company gains insight into network coverage at drone altitude and the quality of the connection during flight.

This information supports the wider assessment of how mobile networks can help enable drone operations in shared airspace.

Results from the first pilot year

Since the pilot began in September 2025, more than 800 flights have been carried out.

The drones follow a fixed 22-kilometre flight route between Isala Meppel and Isala Zwolle.

The average flight duration is 14 minutes.

The pilot has achieved operational availability of 92 to 95 percent.

Flights have been carried out safely in shared airspace.

The project has also provided practical experience with the transport of medication and blood samples between hospital locations and with the integration of medical drones into Dutch airspace.

Practical lessons from year-round testing

Over the past year, the route between Meppel and Zwolle has been used in all seasons to test medical drone flights in real-life conditions.

Strong winds proved to be the main operational challenge.

On some days, flights had to be postponed or cancelled because of weather conditions.

The organisations involved also gained experience with technical points requiring attention.

The pilot demonstrates that medical drone flights can be carried out safely within a defined corridor between the two hospital locations.

The experience gained will support the further expansion of the pilot and research into the safe integration of manned and unmanned aviation.

The results offer prospects for scaling up medical drone flights nationwide in busy Dutch airspace, provided regulations support the visibility of aircraft and establish clear right-of-way rules.

Toward a national medical drone network

The extended pilot will examine how drone transport can be used more broadly for laboratory diagnostics, different patient groups and pharmaceutical products.

The experience gathered on the route between Meppel and Zwolle will form an important basis for future drone corridors and a national medical drone network.

Through the extension of the pilot, KPN and the other participating organisations are continuing to assess how medical drone transport can support healthcare logistics, improve operational efficiency and contribute to safe, scalable drone operations in the Netherlands.

Media Contact:

Anne van der Wel
Spokesperson
anne.vanderwel@kpn.com
+31 70 4466300

SOURCE: KPN