Cabinet Increases Investments in European Space to 453 Million Euros

The cabinet will invest 453 million euros in European space programs over the next three years (2026-2028). Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs) announced this today in Bremen, Germany, at the Ministerial Conference (MC25) of the European Space Agency (ESA). This amount is an increase of 109 million euros compared to the commitment announced earlier in October. The additional support strengthens companies and knowledge institutions in the Netherlands, including ESTEC, ESAs technological headquarters in Noordwijk.

Space technology and satellite data are increasingly essential for security, defense, logistics, infrastructure, science, agriculture, sustainability, and preventing dependencies. The sector provides over 10,000 jobs in the Netherlands, reduces dependencies, and is a source of innovations in various technologies. The cabinet is now investing an additional 109 million euros on top of the announced 344.3 million euros. This brings the contribution close to the funding norm and in line with what other European countries invest over the next three years.

Including national programs, such as laser satellite communication and earth observation satellites, the cabinets space policy from now until 2028 amounts to over 660 million euros.

Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs): “The cabinet previously had to make sharper 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. Therefore, we have worked hard recently to realize a substantial additional one-time investment. This has now succeeded and is good news for all involved Dutch and European entrepreneurs and researchers, as well as for ESTEC in Noordwijk.”

Investments via European Space Agency Programs

The 23 ESA member states agree every three years on how much they will jointly invest in space. In the period 2020-2022, the Netherlands contributed 283.5 million euros to ESA programs. In 2023-2025, this was 319.8 million euros, plus a one-time increase of 53.6 million euros. The Dutch contribution for 2026-2028 now amounts to 453.3 million euros.

At the end of 2023, the cabinet also released an additional 22.2 million euros to strengthen the business climate of the NL Space Campus, where startups, researchers, students, and SME suppliers collaborate around Noordwijk. This contribution goes towards the modernization of ESTEC. This institute annually accounts for about 500 million euros in expenditures and acts as an investment magnet in the Netherlands for foreign space companies.