Space is of strategic value for various policy areas. As a result, several ministries collaborate on Dutch space policy, with the Ministry of Economic Affairs acting as the coordinating ministry. However, there is one space agency that serves the entire national government: the Netherlands Space Agency.

One Point of Contact

The predecessor of the Netherlands Space Agency – the NSO – was established on 1 January 2009. This brought together the operational tasks of Dutch space policy and created a single point of contact for space activities within the national government.

Steering Committee NLSA

The Netherlands Space Agency reports both financially and substantively to the Steering Committee NLSA. This committee is the principal body and is made up of representatives from the most involved ministries. The Netherlands Space Agency also carries out tasks for other departments and works closely with the Ministry of Defence. The Minister of Economic Affairs is the coordinating government minister for space policy.

Interdepartmental Council for the Space Domain (IRR)

The Netherlands Space Agency is not only connected with departments at an operational level. Strategic coordination also occurs at the highest civil service level. This takes place within the Interdepartmental Council for the Space Domain (IRR). The IRR is a senior civil service forum for all departments and agencies involved in space.

RVO – Netherlands Enterprise Agency

The Netherlands Space Agency is administratively and organisationally linked to RVO, but operates as an independent entity with a direct line to the steering committee.