On January 15, partners of the MITC, together with educational institutions Windesheim and Firda, met in Marknesse for an inspiring Connect & Create session on Smart Mobility.
In an energetic and structured brainstorm, shared knowledge questions and current challenges were translated into promising collaborations and concrete first follow-up actions.
Marknesse, November 28, 2025 – The Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) has officially opened the Energy to Propulsion Test Facility (EPTF) in Marknesse.
This unique, modular facility enables NLR and its partners to safely and thoroughly test new propulsion technologies, with a strong focus on hydrogen-electric powertrains. This represents a significant contribution to accelerating the sustainability of aviation.
MITC is a unique collaboration in which established and new organizations join forces in Marknesse. Royal NLR – Netherlands Aerospace Centre (including the Drone Centre) and the German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW) have been firmly established at this location for many years. With the arrival of the renewed RDW test centre and the national Police (Academy) training and exercise centre, a broad range of testing and research facilities is created. In addition, knowledge and educational institutions Windesheim and Firda strengthen MITC through research and talent development.
Each organization has an excellent, solid (inter)national position and an associated network of customers, governments, and chain partners. MITC therefore has a strong attraction for national and international parties interested in establishing themselves in Marknesse.
Windesheim University of Applied Sciences (locations in Zwolle and Almere) provides a wide range of higher professional education (HBO), Associate Degrees, master’s programs, courses, and training in various fields. The university of applied sciences collaborates with the MITC on the realization of the MITC Campus. This involves knowledge exchange and collaboration through research, internships, and graduation projects, including in the field of cybersecurity.
Firda is an MBO institution for secondary vocational education and adult education, offering high-quality vocational training in Friesland and northern Flevoland. Within the context of the MITC, continuous learning pathways are being developed, as well as the training program for Drone Operator.
The realization of the MITC is a significant development for Northern Flevoland. By joining the forces of the partners at this unique location, opportunities are created for Northern Flevoland.
The realization of the MITC is a significant development for Northern Flevoland. By joining the forces of the partners at this unique location, opportunities are created for Northern Flevoland.
The largest wind tunnel of the German-Dutch Wind Tunnels Foundation (DNW) and the largest in Europe is located in Marknesse. It is a low-speed wind tunnel where speeds up to a maximum of 550 kilometers per hour can be tested. Fittingly, the tunnel is named the ‘Large-Low speed Facility’ (LLF).
Marknesse is the optimal location in the Noordoostpolder of Flevoland to realize the centre. DNW and NLR are already established there, and due to the available space and restricted airspace it has full potential to become the national test centre.
Below are our milestones. From the zoning plan to the first shovel in the ground. The new zoning plan was available for inspection before the summer of 2022, simultaneously with the adjustment of provincial environmental policy. The new zoning plan was adopted in 2023. This also includes the establishment of the police driving skills centre at MITC. The two appeals that were still pending against the zoning plan have been withdrawn. The zoning plan for the development of a Mobility and Infrastructure Test Centre (MITC) in Marknesse has therefore become irrevocable and final.
Five ministries, the Province of Flevoland, the Municipality of Urk and the Municipality of Noordoostpolder signed for the development of MITC in Marknesse. This was conditional upon relocating the current RDW test track from Lelystad.
This upgrade consists of designing and constructing an Automotive Test Section (ATS). Due to the dimensions of this ATS, a niche market can be served, such as precise aerodynamic measurements on small trucks and vans within the framework of WLTP regulations. The ATS is an important step towards the development of an emission and sustainability laboratory within MITC.
The Letter of Intent “MITC collaboration” between RDW, NLR, DNW, Municipality of Noordoostpolder and the Province of Flevoland to realize MITC was signed. A joint development plan was drawn up and is now being implemented. The MITC development plan consists of three main components. Subplan 1: Relocation of the RDW Test Centre to Marknesse, including extension of the track, alongside upgrading DNW’s existing facilities. Subplan 2: Further development into a national test centre where emergency services such as police, fire brigade, ambulance and defence can meet, train, qualify and certify. Subplan 3: Realization of an integrated MITC test environment consisting of an urban test facility and additional facilities including a campus.
The Letter of Intent for Cooperation between MITC and the Police Centre for Enforcement and Mobility was signed. The parties aim to realize a National Test and Training Centre in which facilities complement and strengthen each other, allowing resources to be used more efficiently.
NLR invests approximately €1.4 million in the first tranche of Urban Air Mobility development. In June 2021, EU REACT funding was awarded for “Digicity 0.1 Urban Air Mobility”. The initiative is supported by Windesheim, Firda, Orange Aerospace B.V. and RDW with a Letter of Support (LoS).
In the autumn of 2021, Firda and Windesheim University of Applied Sciences signed a letter of intent for the development of a campus at MITC. Advanced discussions are also underway with the regional Fire Brigade Midden Nederland regarding potential cooperation.
MITC is part of a broader ecosystem and complements other facilities for testing mobility concepts in the Netherlands (for example, the Automotive Campus in Helmond). The intention is to jointly develop an ambition document in line with the Letter of Intent, to follow up on the cooperation. The purpose of this LoI is to intensify cooperation on selected themes such as autonomous driving, data security and alternative fuels / emission reduction. In addition, MITC operates within a European and global environment, which places demands on its development.
The new zoning plan was available for inspection before the summer of 2022, simultaneously with the adjustment of provincial environmental policy. The zoning plan was adopted in 2023 and includes the establishment of the police driving skills centre at MITC. The two appeals submitted to the Council of State were withdrawn, making the zoning plan irrevocable.
With the zoning plan declared irrevocable, tendering for the construction of the RDW and Police test track can start at the end of 2024 / beginning of 2025.
Within MITC, we are working on various societal challenges such as sustainability, digitalization, new mobility, and safety. To achieve this, the partners utilize all the facilities, services, and knowledge available at the partners. With the development and realization of MITC, we are not only creating a comprehensive knowledge and testing center for smart mobility for customers. From a societal perspective, it is a positive development that will boost broad prosperity. This concerns the prosperity in northern and eastern Flevoland, which often lags behind that in southern Flevoland. Considering employment opportunities, training opportunities, and the attractiveness of businesses, this development has a significant impact at the local and regional levels.
Furthermore, considering the technological ambitions, the impact is national and international… A significant societal challenge is making society more sustainable. A society that emits fewer harmful substances and uses fewer raw materials. Both the government and industry have a role to play in this.
