# Franchise Freedom above the IJ, Amsterdam – Drone Stories

> Franchise Freedom's European premiere: 300 drones flew as a flock of starlings above the IJ in Amsterdam, inside Schiphol's controlled airspace.

Source: https://dronestories.com/drone-shows/franchise-freedom-amsterdam-ij/

European premiere above the IJ

# Franchise Freedom above the IJ, Amsterdam

In August 2018 Franchise Freedom had its European premiere. 300 drones flew as a flock of starlings above the IJ, the water at the heart of Amsterdam, inside the controlled airspace of Schiphol airport. The show ran alongside DRIFT’s solo exhibition Coded Nature at the Stedelijk Museum.

| | |
|---|---|
| Client | DRIFT |
| Location | Above the IJ, Amsterdam |
| Drones | 300 |
| Type | art |

More [drone shows in Amsterdam](/drone-shows/in/amsterdam/)

## A flock above the water

Studio DRIFT flew Franchise Freedom above the IJ, the water between the north and the centre of Amsterdam. Crowds watched from the NDSM wharf, with the city’s skyline behind the swarm. It was DRIFT’s first museum solo show, Coded Nature at the Stedelijk Museum, that brought the work to Amsterdam.

## Inside Schiphol’s airspace

The flight area sat inside the controlled airspace (CTR) of Schiphol airport. Our team was in radio contact with Schiphol during the flights. The swarm was made of 300 Intel Shooting Star drones.

## Music by Joep Beving

Pianist Joep Beving composed and performed the music. AD, De Telegraaf, de Volkskrant, Het Parool and Trouw covered the show.

Franchise Freedom, a work by DRIFT, created by the artists Lonneke Gordijn, Ralph Nauta and Lucas van Oostrum. Read more about [Franchise Freedom](/drone-shows/franchise-freedom/).

Photos: Ossip van Duivenbode.

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