Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Police in Hasselt use Skeydrone to detect illegal drones. In 3 weeks, 244 flights were found; 168 legal, 12 too high. One reached 406m. Fines range €1,000–€8,000.
As VRT News reported, the police in Hasselt are checking the skies for illegal drones. Many people have complained about drones flying over their homes and gardens. Some drones get too close and look inside windows or bathrooms. The police say they get over 100 reports like this every year.
One time in Bilzen, someone used a drone to throw eggs. The police say this is not just strange but also dangerous. They now want to stop drones from being used in bad ways. That is why they are watching more closely.
“With a prison and a no-fly zone during various events within our police district, such as Pukkelpop, a detection system was therefore essential,”
says Bosmans.
How did Hasselt detect 244 drones in just 3 weeks?
The police in Hasselt are using a new system to find drones. They started using it in July 2025. It comes from a Belgian company named Skeydrone. The system is placed in the middle of the city. It can see drones flying up to 5 kilometres away. In 3 weeks, it found 244 drones.
Police are worried that some drones could be used for bad things. Drones can be used to spy, smuggle things, or cause problems at big events. A big music festival called Pukkelpop is coming soon. The police will use the system to help keep everyone safe. They say it is important because more people are using drones now.
Out of the 244 drone flights found in the first 3 weeks by the new system in Hasselt, 168 were from emergency services like police, firefighters, or medical teams. These flights are allowed and follow clear rules. But some drones broke the law.
12 of them flew higher than the allowed height of 120 meters. That is the top limit for normal drone use in Belgium. One drone was a big problem. It went up to 406 meters in the air. Officials mentioned that this was very dangerous because it flew through the path of planes going to Kiewit Airport. It could have caused a serious crash.
“The investment will help our police respond quickly to drone misuse,”
said Mayor Steven Vandeput (N-VA).
“We hope this will minimise the number of drone incidents.”
According to officials, drones that do not follow the rules can face serious penalties. If the police see an illegal drone flight, they write a report and take the drone away for a while. Chief Inspector Tom Hannes says the fine depends on how badly the rule was broken. The fine can be from €1,000 to €8,000.
“Especially during events that could cause damage and mass hysteria,”
says Hannes.
“That’s why we only focus on detection. We respond to reports and identify them from there.”
In recent years, several reports have come in about drones flying too close to airports, over crowds at events, or above private homes without permission. In 2020, a drone was seen flying near Brussels Airport, which led to delays and safety checks. There have also been cases during festivals, where drones were flown over large crowds without approval, creating safety risks. Police districts in other cities like Antwerp and Ghent have also reported problems with illegal drone flights.
