Noordwijk is a Dutch coastal town known for its beaches, surrounding flower fields, and the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), the primary hub for the European Space Agency. It balances natural landscapes with a focus on space technology.
The Dutch space sector, comprising about 250 companies and institutions, designs rocket components, satellite instruments, and satellite-based services. Noordwijk hosts ESTEC, ESA’s largest branch, where research and satellite testing are conducted with ESA’s European and Canadian partners.
ESTEC in Noordwijk oversees most ESA projects, except launchers, with teams specializing in scientific missions, human spaceflight, telecommunications, satellite navigation, and Earth observation expertise.