Accelerating the future of aerospace

Royal NLR has been an ambitious applied research organisation, working on solutions that make our future better for over 100 years. Aerospace is evolving constantly. We are accelerating that movement, with our full conviction and deep-seated desire to innovate. Our mission is clear and ambitious: making aerospace safer, more sustainable, more efficient and more effective. For all of society. Because the future is not only something we look at – it is something we actively create.

Aerospace is facing a range of complex issues: spanning from climate change to the digitisation of processes, and from safety to autonomy. NLR cannot take on these challenges alone. We believe in the power of collaboration. As a linchpin between the government, industry and science, we transform ideas into real-world applications and technology that make an impact. From groundbreaking projects to reach climate neutrality by 2050, to innovations that support Dutch Defence and keep our country safe.

Our expertise allows us to look ahead, embrace new technologies and accelerate the solutions to these issues. We explore promising technologies so they become available for concrete applications. We are accelerating innovation, based on applied research and insights that tell us how to deal with our changing world. Together, we strive for the safe and sustainable future of aerospace.

Royal predicate

In honor of its 100th anniversary in 2019, His Majesty King Willem Alexander awarded the Dutch Aerospace Center (NLR) the Royal designation. This honorable award is the recognition of NLR’s work as a leading technological knowledge institute in the field of aerospace in the Netherlands. NLR can now call itself Royal NLR.

Milestones

Milestones For 100 years Royal NLR has been the knowledge organization for applied research making the world of transport safer, more sustainable, more efficient and more effective. With our knowledge and expertise, we are one of the driving forces behind the aerospace sector in the Netherlands and also renowned internationally. With its applied research, knowledge […]

History

The early beginnings of NLR The emergence of (military) aviation After military aviation had clearly proved its worth during the First World War, in late 1917 the Dutch Government decided to substantially expand its air arm in the interest of the nation’s defence. The major importance of developing a national aircraft industry was the uncertainties […]

Since 1919

In 1919, the National Aviation Study Service (RSL) was founded with the aim of increasing the safety of military aviation. However, due to the rapid rise of civil aviation, the RSL also focused on that sector. In 1937, the RSL was converted into a foundation (the NLL and subsequently NLR), which provided a better basis for conducting scientific research for the national aircraft industry.

The arrival of the digital computer gave research an enormous boost. New facilities, such as flight and air traffic simulators, were created to respond to the demand for information about the use of aircraft in military and civil aviation. NLR has responded to public attention for sustainable, safe and efficient air traffic by carrying out a large number of projects with national and international partnerships.