New test track in Marknesse to trial self-driving and advanced vehicles

The Dutch vehicle authority (RDW) is set to start building a test facility next year at the MITC site in Marknesse, Flevoland. The track will be used to trial next-generation vehicles and mobility technologies, such as autonomous cars and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Work on the test track is set to start in mid-2026, with an accompanying building planned for early 2027. The facility is expected to be completed and ready for use by the end of 2028.

The RDW’s new facility will include a 1,700-meter-long, 400-meter-wide high-speed oval with two banked corners, enabling vehicles to maintain nearly constant speeds around the track. “It provides unique opportunities to test (autonomous) vehicles and systems for safety and environmental performance,” the RDW stated.

Zeger Baelde, RDW’s Director of Operations, said: “Drivers need to know their vehicles are safe, especially as automation becomes more common. This new test track gives us the opportunity to rigorously test vehicles, parts, and systems, so that people can drive with confidence.”

The RDW testing facility will be integrated into the MITC (Mobility and Infrastructure Test Center) at NLR Marknesse. MITC brings together public and private partners, such as RDW, the Police Academy, NLR (Netherlands Aerospace Centre), DNW (German-Dutch Wind Tunnels), the municipality of Noordoostpolder, and the province of Flevoland. A national police driving training and education center will also be established on the site.

The new test facility will also allow emissions testing and assessments of vehicles’ environmental performance. Vehicles and components tested at the center will only receive road approval after thorough safety and environmental evaluations. Businesses and private owners can have their vehicles tested at the center domestically.