Planning a waterfront show in Amsterdam or a rooftop reveal in Rotterdam? Don’t start by cranking the watts—start with aviation laser safety. Around Schiphol (EHAM) and Rotterdam The Hague (EHRD/RTM), the commonly nicknamed “Schiphol laser law” makes deliberate illumination of aircraft illegal, and protected approach corridors are taken seriously. This field guide turns rules into choices you can make on site: how to read LVNL/eAIP notes, how to draw no-fly (no-shine) beam windows and tilt limits, and how to notify airlines, venues, and police. We also include practical gear tips—outdoor laser lights, outdoor laser light projectors, DJ laser lights—plus downloadable templates.
Table of Contents
| Section | Jump |
|---|---|
| Laws & Zones (plain English) | #laws-zones |
| How to read LVNL / eAIP & who to contact | #lvnl-eaip |
| No-fly windows & practical tilt control | #no-fly |
| Looks that pass review and still film well | #design-looks |
| Email templates: airline / venue / police | #templates |
| Starshine field notes (real Dutch sites) | #fieldnotes |
| Common rejection causes & fast fixes | #rejections |
| Timeline “Gantt” (T-20 → show week) | #timeline |
| Glossary | #glossary |
| FAQ (collapsible) | #faq |
| CTA & internal links · ALT suggestions | #cta |
Laws & Zones (in plain English)
What’s illegal—and why it matters
Intentionally pointing lasers at aircraft—or into protected approach corridors—is punishable in the Netherlands. The closer you are to major airports, the lower the tolerance and the higher the scrutiny. Your plan has to show control, not just good intentions.
Think in three rings
Treat airport-adjacent airspace as three rings: no-shine, critical, and sensitive. The nearer you are to runway centerlines and approach sectors, the more conservative your tilt and azimuth should be. Near Schiphol (EHAM) and Rotterdam (EHRD), be conservative first and creative second.
Reading LVNL / eAIP & who to contact
Where to look
In the eAIP, focus on: AD-2 (airport data for EHAM/EHRD), GEN (general rules), and ENR (en-route). Watch for “strong light/laser” notes, airport operations contacts, and any circulars about laser illuminations.
What to pull into your pack
Non-emergency ops email/phone, any historical advisories, and map overlays so your no-fly sectors align with approaches. Print a one-page overlay for FOH and keep it with the showfile.
No-fly (no-shine) windows & tilt control
Four steps to build the window
1) Draw venue vs. runway centerlines and waterways. 2) Set max tilt for left/center/right zones. 3) Clamp beam families (graphics / needle / fan) to those limits. 4) Create a one-button macro: BLACKOUT → Conservative Mode → Haze = Low.
Reflections: glass & water
Waterfronts and glass towers amplify glare. Reduce big white fills, aim beams slightly off water, and prefer graphics later at night.
Looks that pass review—and still look great on camera
Hardware choices that help approvals
Pick an outdoor laser light projector with predictable power curves and interlock logging; label zones on each head. Control via FB4/BEYOND or console over Art-Net, with a hard-line backup to your DMX controller. Keep a physical E-stop and an interlock loop diagram in the rack.
Content families & haze presets
- Graphics pack: logos/lines with low white content—camera-clean in light haze.
- Beam pack: narrow “needle” fans at blue hour; clamp brightness.
- Brand lines: slow, above-eye sweeps that read well for TV/reels.
Email templates (airlines / venue / police)
Subject
Laser Display – Aviation Coordination for [Venue], [Date/Time], near [EHAM/EHRD]
Body (bullet points)
Location & coordinates · schedule (local/UTC) · expected peak attendance · equipment (model, divergence, control path FB4/Art-Net/DMX controller) · safety (no-shine sectors, max tilt, E-stop/interlock) · operations (power-down/blackout plan) · contacts · attachments (site map + beam polygons + timetable).
Starshine field notes (anonymized, NL)
North Sea Canal, summer: two mid-power units + one graphics head; full waterfront no-shine; beams only at blue hour. Pre-clamped tilt in the showfile sailed through desk checks.
A10 inner-ring rooftop reveal, autumn: triangle layout with graphics + DJ laser lights. A gusty haze moment? The “Conservative Mode” macro saved it; social still landed three hero shots.
Maashaven quick-turn pop-up (RTM side), winter: total power −30%; graphics after 23:00; small azimuth shifts tamed water reflections.
Common rejections & quick fixes
- Incomplete site plan: add crowd flows, FOH, barriers, and egress arrows.
- Residential light spill: cut big white fills; switch to graphics-forward cues.
- Unclear laser safety: attach a scan-zone PNG, a max-tilt table, and the E-stop/interlock diagram.
- Structures in public road: run an Omgevingsloket check and include drawings.
Timeline “Gantt” (T-20 → show week)
| Window | Lock this | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| T-20 ~ T-16 | Overlay venue with approaches; open portal self-checks | Choose field/roof/canal-side; outline outdoor laser light show equipment |
| T-14 ~ T-12 | Draft site & safety pack; draw laser zones | Mark no-shine sectors; haze macros; FOH and cable routes |
| T-10 ~ T-8 | Coordinate with venue/district/airport | If peak > 2,000, pre-meet the district; add stewarding & traffic plans |
| T-6 ~ T-4 | Reply to queries; finalize constraints | Lock noise/light windows; neighbor letter; sustainability notes |
| T-2 ~ T-0 | Rehearse macros; print the pack | BLACKOUT / Conservative / Haze = Low; post contacts at FOH |
Glossary
- No-fly / No-shine window: a sector and time range where beams must not exceed defined tilt/azimuth.
- APV: municipal by-law covering public-order and event rules.
- Omgevingsvergunning: environment & planning permit for structures/sensitive sites.
- Omgevingsloket: portal for permit checks and submissions.
FAQ · Buyer-style (collapsible)
Is shining lasers near aircraft really illegal?
Yes. Under the commonly called Schiphol laser law, deliberate laser illumination of aircraft is punishable. Your best defense is documented control: no-shine sectors, a max-tilt table, and an E-stop/interlock loop.
Do I need to notify anyone for a small waterfront show?
If beams could reach protected corridors—or reflect toward approach paths—coordinate early via published ops contacts. When in doubt, share your no-fly diagram.
Can I still get “big looks” with limits?
Absolutely. Graphics-forward cues at blue hour with outdoor laser lights often film better than full-power sky tents late at night.
What control path should I use?
FB4/BEYOND or console via Art-Net, with a hard-line backup to your DMX controller. Keep the E-stop reachable from FOH.
Rent or buy if this is my only airport-adjacent show?
Rent first. If your calendar fills, buy and add units. We support small-batch orders with free shipping and a 2-year warranty.