Dutch Drone Academy

What Dutch Drone Academy does

Dutch Drone Academy (legal entity Drone Education Centre B.V.) is a Dutch privately held drone pilot training institution founded in 2012 and headquartered in Lelystad with a postal address in The Hague and a training/exam presence in Katwijk. The company delivers EASA-compliant online theory courses and proctored examinations for EU Open Category drone pilot licenses (A1/A3 at €39.95 and A2 at €79.90, plus 5-year renewals), complemented by a Drone Pilot Support Package (€19.95) for compliance documentation, the DroneBeeld online photography/videography course (€39.95) and accompanying printed book, Flight Training Pro for practical one-on-one flight instruction, and bundled offers (Dronepiloot Compleet Cinema Deal at €149.95 and a Drone Pilot Small Business Pack starting at €353.49) that can include DJI hardware. A sister company, DDA Pro, extends the offering into EASA Specific Category training, Standard Scenarios, and consultancy, and affiliated brands serve MBO vocational education (mbodroneacademy.com) and broader consultancy (unmannedvalue.com).

The technology stack is a custom Learning Management System branded MDLE hosted at mdle.droneacademy.eu, fronted by a WordPress/WooCommerce e-commerce storefront (dutchdroneacademy.com) with MailPoet for email automation; online proctoring is integrated with the Dutch Vehicle Authority (RDW) so that successful candidates obtain official, EU-valid drone pilot certificates. Course content is proprietary (over 25,000 words for basic courses, 9,000 for advanced, and 44,000+ words for DroneBeeld), offered in Dutch and English, and supplemented by a five-location physical A2 exam network operated through partnerships with regional drone clubs in Noord-Holland, Brabant, and Zeeland. The company is recognized by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Staatscourant BSK-2020/247105) as an official EASA training institution, has held ILT recognition as NL-UAS.RE 507, and operates as an independent drone operator under ROC:66/2018, with EASA recognition renewed three times.

The business model is direct-to-consumer e-commerce: customers purchase self-paced online courses with included exam attempts, optional add-on modules, and equipment bundles via the WooCommerce storefront, and then either sit exams online (with proctoring) or at one of five physical locations. Additional revenue comes from extensions, retakes, license renewals, equipment referrals via quadcopter-shop.nl, Remote ID hardware through a BlueMark/dronescout.co partnership, practical flight training, and the DroneBeeld book. The company reports 19,680+ trained pilots, a 4.7/5 average rating from 489 reviews, a self-claimed 100% pass rate, and positions itself as the lowest-priced drone license provider in the Netherlands; it operates with a lean team of approximately 7 to 11 people and no external funding, parent company, or acquisition history.

Name

Dutch Drone Academy

Legal name

Drone Education Centre B.V.

Website

https://dutchdroneacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dutch Drone Academy is a Dutch EASA-recognized online drone pilot training school selling self-paced A1/A3 and A2 license courses, renewals, documentation tools, and bundles to individual hobbyists and professional drone operators across the EU, with RDW-integrated online proctored examinations and a small physical exam network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drone Pilot Training & EASA Certification

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145) (EDAOAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emerging Aviation Maintenance (UAS/Drone, eVTOL & Advanced Air Mobility) (EDAOAFAO), Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

• Drone pilot training
• EASA certification courses
• Online UAS education
• Aviation licensing services
• Drone flight instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Lelystad

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. EASA Drone License Course Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling online drone pilot license courses and exams for EU categories A1/A3 and A2. Courses are sold as one-time purchases with included exam attempts.
2. Supplementary Training Products: Sales of support packages (checklists, logbooks, flight plans), extension periods for course access, and retake exams for students who need additional attempts.
3. Professional Training Services: Flight Training Pro individual practical flight training sessions and specialized workshops including DroneBeeld photography/videography courses.
4. Drone and Equipment Bundles: Sales of drone bundles including DJI products (DJI NEO, DJI Mini 4 Pro, DJI Air 3S) bundled with training courses and licenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dutch Drone Academy sells EASA-compliant online drone pilot certification courses (Basic A1/A3 at €39.95 and Advanced A2 at €79.90) bundled with online proctored exams that integrate with the Dutch Vehicle Authority (RDW) for official EU certificate issuance. The offering is delivered through a proprietary Learning Management System (MDLE) hosting self-developed course content, and is supported by complementary products including a Support Package of professional documentation tools, the DroneBeeld photography/videography course, Flight Training Pro practical sessions, license renewals, and bundled deals that combine training with DJI drone hardware.

Product overview

Dutch Drone Academy offers a comprehensive portfolio of drone pilot training products centered on EU EASA certification. The core offering consists of two drone pilot license courses: EU Drone Vliegbewijs Basis A1/A3 (€39.95) for basic operations and EU Drone Vliegbewijs Gevorderd A2 (€79.90) for advanced operations. These are supplemented by add-on modules including the EU Drone Pilot Support Package (€19.95) for professional documentation and compliance, the DroneBeeld photography/videography course (€39.95) for creative skills, and Flight Training Pro for practical flight instruction. The company packages these into bundled deals such as the Dronepiloot Compleet Cinema Deal (€149.95) combining A1/A3, A2, Support Package, and DroneBeeld, and the Drone Pilot Small Business Pack (from €542.50) which adds drone hardware. Additional offerings include Remote ID transponders, textbooks, and license renewal courses. The company also operates a separate DDA Pro division (dda-pro.nl) for EASA Specific Category training and organizational consultancy services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EU Drone Vliegbewijs Basis A1/A3 Online drone pilot certification course and exam for EASA Open Category A1/A3 subcategories, covering aviation regulations, airspace restrictions, human factors, drone knowledge, and operational procedures. Includes 180 days of access and 3 exam attempts, leading to official RDW-issued EU certificate. Priced at €39.95 incl. VAT for individual consumers seeking to fly drones legally in Dutch and EU airspace.
• EU Drone Vliegbewijs Gevorderd A2 Advanced online drone pilot certification course and exam for the EASA Open Category A2 subcategory, covering meteorology, flight performance, and airspace safety. Requires prior A1/A3 completion and a self-training declaration, with 2 included exam attempts leading to official RDW certificate issuance. Priced at €79.90 incl. VAT for professional and semi-professional drone operators.
• EU Drone Pilot Support Package Professional documentation package including self-training guidelines, operational flight plan template, pre/post-flight checklists, embarkation and arrival checklists, remote pilot flight log, UAS flight log, maintenance log, incident log, and battery charge log. Required documentation kit for A2 category commercial operations, priced at €19.95 incl. VAT.
• Dronepiloot Compleet Cinema Deal Bundled package combining A1/A3 course and exam, A2 course and exam with online proctoring, Drone Pilot Support Package with self-training instruction, and the DroneBeeld photography/videography course, marketed to aspirational drone cinema operators. Discounted from €199.66 to €149.95 incl. VAT.
• Drone Pilot Small Business Pack Complete starter bundle for aspiring professional drone pilots including A1/A3 and A2 licenses, Support Package, DroneBeeld course, drone dictionary, and an option to bundle in a DJI drone (DJI NEO, DJI Air 3S, or DJI Mini 3). Starting from €542.50 incl. VAT with DJI NEO.
• DroneBeeld (Drone Video & Photography Course) Online e-learning course on professional drone photography and videography covering camera basics, drone settings, photography techniques, post-production, video filming with multirotors, sales strategies, archiving, and privacy regulations. Contains over 44,000 words with 100-day access, priced at €39.95 incl. VAT.
• Flight Training Pro Practical in-person flight training program with individual (Single) or paired (Double) sessions, including intake interview and simulator training with customized follow-up based on skill level. Single session 2 hours at €295.00 ex VAT; Double session 2.5 hours at €195.00 ex VAT per person.
• Remote ID Products (db120, db121pcb, db122fpv) Remote ID transponders and modules (db120 battery-powered transponder 25g/3+ hours, db121pcb circuit board, db122fpv FPV module) for drone identification and location broadcasting as required by EASA and FAA regulations, supplied via partnership with dronescout.co (BlueMark). Approved for use in Europe and the USA.
• Vliegbewijs Gevorderd A2 Praktijkdeal Practical training bundle combining the A2 course and exam with a 2-hour one-on-one flight lesson and the Support Package, discounted from €452.70 to €430.55 incl. VAT.
• EU Drone Vliegbewijs Verlenging (A1/A3 en A2) License renewal courses extending EU drone pilot certificates by an additional 5 years, with A1/A3 renewal priced at €39.00 incl. VAT and A2 renewal at €79.00 incl. VAT.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,680+ drone pilots trained and certified
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• flight-deckminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDutch Drone Academy has a special deal with flight-deck for discounted drone insurance. Customers receive €5 discount on drone insurance using code DDA4710. Flight-deck provides both professional and hobbyist drone insurance coverage.
• Drone Club Noord-HollandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for physical A2 examination locations in North Holland region, providing accessible exam venues for Dutch drone pilots.
• Drone Club Brabant en Drone Club ZeelandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for physical A2 examination locations in Brabant and Zeeland regions, providing accessible exam venues for Dutch drone pilots.
• DroneWijzer.nlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDroneWijzer.nl is a drone information resource that Dutch Drone Academy directs customers to for understanding drone regulations and requirements. Mutual referral relationship.
• Quadcopter-shop.nlminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for drone sales. Dutch Drone Academy refers customers for drone purchases and bundles DJI products (NEO, Mini 4 Pro, Air 3S) with their training packages.
• Dutch Drone TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferral partner for drone operator services. Customers seeking inspection or cinema drone operators are referred to Dutch Drone Team.
• dronescout.co (BlueMark)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSells Remote ID products (db120, db121pcb, db122fpv) through Dutch Drone Academy's Remote ID information page. Products are approved for use in Europe and the US (FAA).
• RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with RDW for official drone pilot certificate issuance. After passing exams, customers purchase certificates directly from RDW. RDW verifies self-training declarations for A2 certificates.
• DDA Pro (dda-pro.nl)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company under same organization for EASA Specific Category training, custom training programs, EASA Standard Scenarios, endorsement modules, and advisory services for pilots and organizations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DJI: Global drone OEM whose products (DJI Mini 4 Pro, DJI Air 3S, DJI NEO) are bundled and resold by Dutch Drone Academy. Comparable as the dominant hardware incumbent whose platform and training ecosystem could become a competitive threat.
• NATS (National Air Traffic Services): UK air traffic control provider offering drone training and U-space services. Comparable as a major incumbent involved in drone pilot regulation and training infrastructure across Europe.

Emerging players

• Drone U: US drone training company focused on commercial drone pilots with online courses, in-person bootcamps, and drone business mentorship. Comparable online drone education model serving commercial operator segments.
• Pilot Institute: Online drone training provider offering Part 107 certification courses and drone pilot education. Comparable as a digital-content-led drone training business; differs by serving FAA rather than EASA regulation.
• UAV Coach: US-based online drone training platform selling Part 107 test prep and commercial drone courses. Comparable as an online-first drone education specialist, though focused on FAA rather than EASA framework.

Others

• Drone Industry Insights: Drone market research and consulting firm. Comparable only as an adjacent commercial drone ecosystem participant (their Drone Market Report and consulting overlap with Dutch Drone Academy's Unmanned Value consultancy arm).
• Quadcopter-shop.nl: Dutch drone retailer already partnered with Dutch Drone Academy for DJI bundle sales. Comparable as the broader Dutch drone retail ecosystem player adjacent to the company's hardware distribution.

Direct peers

• Coptrz: UK drone training and solutions provider offering CAA-approved training courses, drone hardware, and enterprise drone services. Comparable as a one-stop regulated training + hardware + consultancy operator in the European market.
• Heliguy: UK-based drone training and solutions provider offering EASA-aligned drone pilot courses, commercial drone services, and hardware sales. Highly comparable model combining online training, regulated certification, and equipment bundles.
• Drone Academy (UK): UK drone training school delivering EASA-compliant PfCO (now A2 Subcategory) courses and practical flight training. Directly comparable in regulatory framework, training offering, and target audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dutch-drone-academy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dutch Drone Academy