HM King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands to celebrate 50 years of Europe’s space cooperation
ESA’s technical centre ESTEC is scheduled to be honoured with a royal visit next Tuesday. This year, ESA is celebrating 50 years of successful European cooperation in space.
The Netherlands has played a pivotal role in bringing this achievement about. It was one of the original ten nations that came together to found the European Space Research Organisation and the host country of the European Space Technology and Research Centre, ESTEC – which grew to become ESA’s largest establishment and the technical heart of the European Space Agency.
To celebrate this anniversary, ESA has been organising special events across all its establishments, with participation at the highest governmental levels. Accordingly, on 16 December, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands will join ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and Head of ESTEC Franco Ongaro at ESTEC, together with the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp, Ambassadors, Heads of Delegation, representatives from Dutch partner organisations, Dutch national colleagues and ESA Directors and Department Heads.
