News item | 26-11-2025 | 16:10
The government will invest €453 million in European space programs over the next 3 years (2026-2028). Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs) announced this today in Bremen, Germany, at the Ministerial Conference (MC25) of the European Space Agency (ESA). The amount is an increase of €109 million compared to the commitment previously announced in October. The additional support strengthens companies and knowledge institutions in the Netherlands, including ESTEC, the technological headquarters of ESA in Noordwijk.
Space technology and satellite data are increasingly necessary for security, defense, logistics, infrastructure, science, agriculture and sustainability and the prevention of dependencies. The sector provides more than 10,000 jobs in the Netherlands, reduces dependencies and is a source of innovations in all kinds of technologies. The government is now investing an additional €109 million on top of the announced €344.3 million. This brings the contribution close to the financing standard and what other European countries invest over the next 3 years.
Including national programs, for example for laser satellite communications and Earth observation satellites, the government’s policy for space from now until 2028 amounts to more than €660 million.
Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs): “The cabinet has previously had to make stricter choices in the national budget. These also had consequences for the Dutch contribution to ESA. That was a painful choice, because the space sector not only strengthens our economy, but also keeps the Netherlands safe. We have therefore worked hard recently to realize a significant additional incidental investment in this. This has now been achieved and is good news for all Dutch and European entrepreneurs and researchers involved, but also for ESTEC in Noordwijk.”
Investments through European Space Agency programmes
The 23 member states of the ESA agree every 3 years how much they will jointly invest in space travel. In the period 2020-2022, the Netherlands contributed €283.5 million to ESA programs. In 2023-2025 this was €319.8 million, with an incidental increase of €53.6 million. The Dutch contribution for 2026-2028 now amounts to €453.3 million.
At the end of 2023, the government has also released an additional €22.2 million to strengthen the business climate of the NL Space Campus, where startups, researchers, students and SME suppliers work together around Noordwijk. This contribution goes towards the modernization of ESTEC. That institute generates approximately €500 million in expenditure annually and is an investment magnet in the Netherlands for foreign space companies.