Adriaan, we hear a lot about the Artemis mission. What is the involvement of the Netherlands in this?

Artemis II marks a historic moment; for the first time since 1972, humans will fly to the moon again. What many people do not know is that the Dutch aerospace sector directly contributes to this. The European Space Agency (ESA) provides the vital 'European Service Module' for the Orion spacecraft, supplying astronauts with oxygen, water, and propulsion. The power for this module is generated by high-quality Dutch solar panels from Leiden.

You have evaluated the Dutch policy over the past seven years. What are the main conclusions?

The evaluation shows that the Dutch space policy in the period 2017-2024 has been efficient; the available public resources have been used effectively. However, the effectiveness lagged behind the high ambitions mostly due to limited public resources and the fact that the Dutch contribution to ESA remained relatively low compared to other member states. For instance, Netherlands invested less than the agreed norm in proportion to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Space activities are to a great extent a public good with positive external effects, and participation in international programmes enables economies of scale.

Furthermore, the Dutch space policy has undergone substantial changes in recent years, with more focus on security, defence, and strategic autonomy. Most recommendations from the previous evaluation of the space policy (covering the period 2012-2016), also conducted by Dialogic, have been implemented. Unfortunately, a recommendation that was not adopted was an increase in the budget for space policy, despite being deemed necessary and urgent by the space sector.

How does the Netherlands perform economically and scientifically in this international context?

Scientifically, the Netherlands is among the world leaders, with institutions like SRON, TNO, and NLR playing a prominent role in international missions. Our institutions and companies are crucial in developing advanced instruments for applications such as earth observation and climate research. Economically, the so-called 'geo-return' is a significant success: for every euro the Netherlands invests in ESA, approximately €1.08 returns to Dutch businesses and knowledge institutions in the form of contracts. Although the geo-return has shown a declining trend over the years, ESTEC (the European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk, partly supported with Dutch funding) has yielded positive spin-off effects for Dutch businesses and knowledge institutions.

The report mentions the future of space policy as promising. What is this based on?

The upcoming space policy appears promising, partly due to the introduction of the 'Long-Term Space Agenda' (LTR) in 2024. This agenda outlines six clear missions focusing on themes such as national security, climate, scientific excellence, and economic growth. Significant progress is being made through the establishment of the Interdepartmental Council for the Space Domain (IRR) and the transformation of the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) into the Netherlands Space Agency (NLSA) in March 2026. By strengthening implementation through the shift from an office to an agency, the Netherlands can better represent its interests in European organisations like ESA and enhance international recognition. Moreover, in November last year at the ESA Ministerial Conference in Bremen, the Netherlands announced an increase of €109 million in its contribution to ESA for the period 2026-2028.

What are the main lessons for the coming years?

While the foundation is solid, the Netherlands must make tough choices in the future. With current resources, it is challenging to fully achieve all ambitions simultaneously. Prioritising missions where the Netherlands already excels, such as earth observation and satellite communication, is essential. There is also a need to focus on recruiting technical talent and improving the collaboration between the ESA establishment in Noordwijk (ESTEC) and the Dutch ecosystem to maximise the opportunities that space activities offer. The government could also further act as a launching customer for the space sector and create conditions for Dutch space companies to become international leaders, for example by maximising the disclosure of satellite data to develop (innovative) products contributing to societal transitions and Dutch economic strength. Lastly, it is crucial to formulate the objectives of future space policy as concretely as possible (for instance, with more tailored indicators), providing (better) options to monitor, evaluate, and adjust the policy.