News item | 24-04-2026 | 13:30
The Netherlands, together with partners in Belgium and Germany, is fully committed to the arrival of the Einstein Telescope in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion. The government sees the arrival of this top scientific instrument as a government priority. At the proposal of Minister Letschert of Education, Culture and Science, the Council of Ministers has agreed to appoint former Minister of Foreign Affairs and State Secretary for European Affairs Ben Knapen as special envoy for the Einstein Telescope as of summer 2026. Sjoerd Sjoerdsma fulfilled this task before he joined the cabinet.
Essential for autonomy and competitiveness
The arrival of a top scientific instrument such as the Einstein Telescope is a guarantee for new innovations and long-term profits for the economy, and is therefore essential for our autonomy and competitiveness. In Europe, 3 candidates are competing for the location of the telescope. In addition to the Dutch-Belgian-German consortium, these are Italy (Sardinia) and the German state of Saxony. All participating countries in Europe must decide on the location next autumn.
Minister Letschert: “As a government, we want as much international and especially European support as possible for the arrival of the Einstein Telescope to the border region of South Limburg. Ben Knapen can play an important role in this as a special envoy. He can boast a large international network, and therefore access at government level.”
Beyond the limits of what is technically possible
The Einstein Telescope will be a large underground instrument, consisting of kilometers of tubes through which laser beams pass. By measuring the speed of these beams much more precisely than has previously been possible, scientists can detect gravitational waves from space and thus learn new things about the origin of our universe. The development of the telescope requires a lot of new knowledge, beyond the limits of what is already technically possible. This stimulates innovation and activity.
The Netherlands has a reserve of €870 million from the National Growth Fund for the construction of the telescope, Flanders has pledged €500 million and Wallonia €200 million. In addition, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science announced today that it would make €25 million available to prepare for the arrival of the Einstein Telescope. Other partners, such as the province of Limburg, also make an important contribution to the current development phase.
