28.06.2025
Innenhafen Duisburg
Duisburg Kontor
250 Drones
About the show
The “Extraschicht – Night of Industrial Culture” is one of the largest and best-known cultural events in the Ruhr region. It combines historical industrial backdrops with modern art and light shows. In 2025, we were once again able to be part of this extraordinary night, this time lighting up Duisburg's inner harbor with a drone show!
With 250 drones, we created a 15-minute show that impressively reflected the connection between water, industry, culture, and regional identity. The motifs ranged from abstract water symbols to well-known Duisburg landmarks – accompanied by atmospheric music.
Storyboard
- Outline of the inner harbor
- Lettering: “Duisburg is real”
- Landschaftspark Nord logo
- Tiger & Turtle
- Silo tower
- Swan Gate Bridge
- Water polo ball
- Water veins
- River cargo ship
- Lettering: “Duisburg is real”
Project description
The request
In spring 2025, Duisburg Kontor approached us with a request to do something completely different in Duisburg as part of the Extraschicht event: a drone show above Duisburg’s inner harbor! The aim was to create a cultural highlight that celebrates the city, its industrial features, and its people.
Initially, quotes were obtained for shows with 100, 150, and 200 drones, as well as the option of a professional drone video. After further discussions, Duisburg Kontor decided on an extended show with 250 drones and a duration of approximately 15 minutes to achieve the full effect over the water.
The preparation
Early on, Duisburg Kontor submitted around 13 suggestions, including many iconic Duisburg symbols. We then provided design feedback and recommended focusing the selection on 10 motifs to give each image more presence and movement.
The musical arrangement was also agreed upon jointly, and the piece composed especially for Duisburg, “Duisburg ist echt” (Duisburg is real), also found its place as a dramatic backdrop.
In addition to aviation law, other approvals from various authorities were required for the technical implementation, including property owners, the Waterways and Shipping Authority, and the operator of the railway facility to the north.
The realisation
The show was planned for a performance in Duisburg’s inner harbor—a spectacular backdrop with a large audience and a great, open view of the water, providing the perfect view of the show. We were able to set up a nearby takeoff and landing site close to the harbor, and all safety areas were cordoned off by us and an external security company as previously discussed.
Our drone fleet was programmed to synchronize with the music and lighting design, so that the motifs flowed smoothly into one another. The light reflections on the water further enhanced the overall picture.
The conclusion
The planned show for Extraschicht 2025 exemplifies the connection between tradition and innovation in the Ruhr region. With its combination of industrial history, musical dramaturgy, and state-of-the-art drone technology, Duisburg was shown in a new light—emotional, impressive, and sustainable!
We were delighted to not only contribute a spectacular highlight to Extraschicht with this production, but also to showcase the innovative power and creativity of the city of Duisburg.
The show was once again filmed in spectacular fashion by our dear colleagues at CINEQUADS.