The annual celebration of space in the Netherlands is back! NL Space Week 2025 is a space extravaganza featuring unique experiences and events at exclusive locations across the country. Our location at SBIC Noordwijk is hosting two events for startups and entrepreneurs during the space week. First up is the Space Investor Event on 7 Oct (sold out) and then the Space Meets Manufacturing competition launch event on 9 Oct (register here), after which you can head to Space Expo for the NL Space Campus Network & Drinks XL Edition.
Visit the NL Space Campus/SBIC booth at the ESA ESTEC Open Days >>
Together with the entire Dutch space sector, NL Space Week unlocks the potential of space by opening its doors to everyone. There are open days at ESA/ESTEC and star-watching at the Copernicus Observatory in Bloemendaal and the Old Observatory in Leiden, as well unique programmes at the Space Research Organisation Netherlands (SRON) (in Groningen and Leiden) and at the Artis Planetarium in Amsterdam. The full itinerary has something for everyone!
Space tech is all around
This year’s edition of NL Space Week will take place from 4 to 12 October at various locations across the Netherlands, with some events already opening on 3 October. Across the jam-packed agenda, the Dutch space sector opens its doors to the public, enabling people of all ages to uncover space and its vast potential. “The demand for space-based solutions for climate monitoring, security and communication has never been greater,” says Jeroen Rotteveel, chair of SpaceNed. “NL Space Week connects directly to the challenges we face as a society.”
“Visitors will get to see and learn about areas that are usually closed to the public,” continues Jeroen. “It is a chance to be surprised by what the Dutch space sector has to offer. We believe the sector deserves a bigger stage – and NL Space Week helps make that possible.”
Tech startups creating impact
Far from being an abstract concept, space technology underpins essential services – GPS navigation, defence systems and global communication all depend on space infrastructure. Startups developing novel solutions utilising satellite data across a number of these areas are currently taking part in ESA’s Dutch business incubation programme and getting support at ESA BIC Noordwijk.
• Tue 7 Oct – Space Investor Event | Location: SBIC
(organised by NL Space Campus, SBIC Noordwijk and KplusV)
For the first event to be held at SBIC – the Space Investor Event on 7 October – entrepreneurs developing businesses from a number of these areas a large number of applications were received. Registration for this event is now closed and selected startups will get unrivalled access to a variety of national and international investors from a partner level. The objective of this event is to accelerate innovation in the space sector by creating direct connections between capital-seeking startups and relevant investors. Discover more here. This is a closed event and only the invited startups and investors can attend.
• Thu 9 Oct – Space Meets Manufacturing Launch Event | Location: SBIC
(organised by EIT Manufacturing, NL Space Campus and SBIC Noordwijk)
The second event taking place at SBIC during NL Space Week will seek to unlock the synergy potential of innovation activities across two industries. Space Meets Manufacturing is a brand new startup competition that calls on startups from both the space and manufacturing sectors to pitch solutions to industry challenges. The aim of the initiative is to shed light on multi-market solutions and accelerate their application in cross-sectoral environments. Discover more and meet the challenge owners – from the European Space Agency and ArcelorMittal – at the launch event on 9 October. Register here. This competition is open to all interested EU-based startups. Get full details via the EIT Manufacturing website.
Registration deadline for EUDIS Hackathon is during NL Space Week too >>
NL Space Week is initiated and powered by NL Space Campus in collaboration with ESA ESTEC and supported by the Dutch space sector. See: nlspaceweek.eu
Follow and share your involvement on socials with the hashtag #NLSW25
Join the largest networking event of the year at Space Expo!
Related posts:
- Space Investor Event on 7 Oct at SBIC Noordwijk
- Space Meets Manufacturing startup competition calling for participants
Listen:
Whether you are lucky enough to have a ticket for the (sold out) ESA ESTEC Open Days or not, you can discover more about what goes on behind the scence in the latest episode of the Uncover Space podcast with guest Anja Appelt, ESA ESTEC site coordination officer.
With extensive experience in organising major space events, Anja shares what makes the ESA ESTEC Open Days unique, what visitors can look forward to, and how the event connects to NL Space Week and the wider Dutch space community. Listen via Apple Podcasts.
