Junge Menschen fahren auf Fahrrädern durch Amsterdam. Foto: Unsplash/Sabina Fratila.
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Netherlands

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Science in the Netherlands

Heated cycling lanes and solar panels on the street: what sounds like some sort of utopia has actually been tested in the Netherlands. Not particularly surprising, as innovation is important in this small country. Whether it's new biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease, the reduction of carbon emissions on islands or the prediction of the best harvest time for peaches - the Netherlands are involved in many pioneering research projects. Not only reputable scientists are brought on board - the population is also asked to participate. In 2015, for example, every Dutch person could submit questions they wanted answered scientifically as part of the "Nationale Wetenschapsagenda". Incidentally, research and inventing have a long tradition in the Netherlands: things like telescopes, light microscopes and fire hoses were developed by Dutch.

The Facts

Population 17,035,938
Area 41,850 km²
Gross domestic product per capita in US-Dollar 53,018.6
Public expenditure on education (share of GDP) 5.1 %
Share of female researchers 26.4 %
Universities 129
Universities per 1 million inhabitants 7.60
Students 912,735
Expenditure on Research and Development (share of GDP) 2.1 (share of GDP)

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A new telescope in space – work for generations
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A new telescope in space – work for generations
The James Webb telescope will deliver new insights into deep space. But before they got spectacular images two Dutch researchers lived through uncertainty.
Ein Mann im wei´ßen Kittel sitzt an einem Tisch. Darauf liegt ein großer Knochen. Am Tisch stehen vier weitere Menschen.
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Natural history with a twist: Research to touch and watch
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Natural history with a twist: Research to touch and watch
At the Naturalis museum in Leiden you can watch scientists at work, even as they dissect animals for the public eye.
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