Symposium on Remote Sensing for Resources Development and Environmental Management/Enschede / August 1986 
© 1987Balkema, Rotterdam. ISBN 90 6191 674 7 
963 
C.P.C.M.Oomen 
President of the Netherlands’ Remote Sensing Board 
Ladies and Gentlemen, 
I am very pleased that in Brazil ISPRS decided 
to have this year’s Symposium of Commission Seven in 
Holland. 
1986 is a very special year for all people in this 
country occupied in the remote sensing field. 
Consequently we are glad to be the host of this 
symposium. 
The point is that, following a decision of our 
government, we this year started a 5 years programme 
for further development of remote sensing. 
Let me take the opportunity to give you a rough idea 
of what happened and what we expect to happen. 
Remote sensing in Holland already has some history. 
It started some fifteen years ago. The government 
then initiated a working community for research of 
remote sensing applications with a limited budget. 
During the 7 years of its existence this community 
built up a certain amount of knowledge regarding the 
relations between object properties and remotely 
sensed data. 
The research activities also resulted in a number of 
operational methods for earth observation to be used 
in coastal zone managements, agriculture, public 
works and environmental control. 
At the end of this 7 years’ period 4 departments 
decided to continue the research mainly focussed on 
operational use of remote sensing for their own 
interests. 
In addition the department of Education and Sciences 
financed some special projects. 
The operations were supported by the Netherlands’ 
Remote Sensing Board. 
Highlights of this period were the development, of 
airborne sensors, digital data processing techniques 
and the establishment of a remote sensing 
infrastrueture. 
The chooser modest conception, however, caused some 
bottle-necks. 
Firstly the limited budget (less than 2 min guilders 
a year), then the incomplete organization structure, 
the absence of a long-tei~m policy and also the 
scarce relationship with industry. 
In order to find a way out of these problems and as 
a consequence of the Dutch space policy it was 
decided to execute a National Remote Sensing 
Programme. This programme has a budget of 30 min 
guilders, spread over a 5 years’ period, starting in 
1986. 
The main objectives, of the programme are: 
- transfer from research to operational use; 
commercialization of operational applications; 
- stimulation of research focussed on operational 
use; 
- stimulation of basic research; 
- development of technology; 
- improvement of infrastructure. 
The budget for the national programme is financed 
by 5 governmental departments, which have a seat in 
the renewed Netherlands ’ Remote Sensing Board. 
Through contributions to projects Dutch industries 
take care of additional finances. 
They have two seats in the board. 
As you will have noticed we did not change the name 
of the Remote Sensing Board, although there were 
rather some changes. 
We also took care of a well fit infrastructure 
within each participating department or group. 
The board is assisted by a Programme Bureau to take 
care of financial control, project contracting, 
coordination, etc., etc. 
During the execution of the national programme the 
main priorities are focussed on the operational 
implementation of the use of earth observation 
techniques and subsequently commercialisation. 
International aims are: 
- remote sensing applications in the third world 
- preparation for the European Space Agency’s ERS-1 
programme. 
More details of the national programme will be 
given later on during this symposium by the 
Programme manager, mr. Bunnik. 
Thanks to the developments I just now described 
Holland is at the beginning of a promising remote 
sensing period. 
I expect that the results of this Symposium will 
further stimulate development in our country. 
Ladies and gentlemen please let me wish you a 
successful and pleasant Symposium.