The Netherlands Space Office (NSO) is the governmental Space Agency of the Netherlands. NSO's task is to advise upon and realise the national space policy.
The space policy of the Netherlands focuses on the added value of space on science, economy and society, and in particular the development of ground-breaking space technologies, and services based on satellite data.
NSO is representing the Netherlands in the programme boards of the European Space Agency (ESA). NSO supports and stimulates space companies and institutions in the Netherlands to start new collaborations with international partners. It reports, both financially and substantively, directly to a steering committee consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
Space technology and satellite data are key in dealing with today’s global challenges. Understanding climate change, monitoring air quality, safe navigation and effective communication – this is all impossible without the help of satellite data generated by precision technology in space.
The wide applicability of space technology and satellite data are creating new opportunities and possibilities to make life on Earth safer, more sustainable and prosperous, and to obtain more scientific insights. The space policy of the Netherlands as executed by NSO aims to build upon these opportunities and, by doing so, keep the Netherlands at the forefront of innovations in space.
NSO was established on 1 January 2009 by the later members of the steering group NSO, with the aim of consolidating various executive tasks of Dutch space policy and setting up of a single point of contact for the government with respect to the space sector.
The director of NSO leads an organisation with dedicated support staff and specialists and has the NSO Programme Council available for advice.
The key principles and agreements about NSO are recorded in a covenant that was agreed upon by the founding parties.
NSO is located in The Hague.