Netherlands Space Office

The Netherlands Space Agency (NLSA) is the space agency of the Netherlands. It helps plan and support space projects for the country. The NLSA works with scientists, engineers, and other countries to explore space and use its discoveries to improve life on Earth. This agency plays an important role in making sure the Netherlands stays involved in exciting space adventures and research.

Creation

In October 2008, three Dutch government ministries — the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management — along with the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), signed an agreement to create a space agency.

The old agency, called the Netherlands Space Office (NSO), started on July 1, 2009, after combining space activities from the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programmes and other institutes like KNMI. By March 3, 2026, the agency changed its name to the Netherlands Space Agency (NLSA).

Purpose

The Netherlands Space Agency (NLSA) was created by the Dutch government to help guide the country's space plans and manage its space program. NLSA speaks for the Netherlands in important space groups, like the European Space Agency (ESA), the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It also connects people in the Netherlands who are interested in space.

NLSA works to share information and encourage learning about space, focusing on what the Netherlands does in space activities.

Administration

The director of the Netherlands Space Agency reports to a special group from the government. The agency is part of RVO, which is part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.