Dutch cabinet backtracks on ESA cutbacks

The demissionary Dutch government will invest 453 million euros in European space programs for 2026-2028 – roughly 109 million euros more than the 344.3 million euros announced in October. The boost came after warnings that a lower Dutch contribution would risk losing European Space Agency (ESA) contracts and lead to the relocation of space research center Estec in Noordwijk. The additional funding will be partly used to bolster this outfit.

In an interview with Dutch newspaper NRC last month, ESA director-general Josef Aschbacher voiced criticism, arguing that the Netherlands’ contribution to his organization was too low (link in Dutch). Aschbacher warned that he “could no longer support” certain space activities in the Netherlands. Pointing to 600 million euros generated in revenue by the Dutch space industry, he urged the cabinet to reconsider its budget.