Organisation

Our people and expertise

GDN employs more than 325 employees across six research groups. Within these research groups, our employees develop applied knowledge, technology, and information products. We employ geologists, physical geographers, engineers, and, because of our data management expertise, a relatively large number of geodata scientists and IT specialists.

Three main tasks

Our tasks have been laid out in the Geological Survey of the Netherlands Agreement between the State of the Netherlands and TNO. As the knowledge partner of the Dutch government, GDN has three main tasks:

• Information task: collecting, managing, and making subsurface information digitally accessible.
• Advisory task: advising public authorities on the use of the subsurface.
• Research task: developing applied knowledge of the subsurface and subsurface-related technologies.

Information task

Our role is to inform public authorities, the business community, and society about the subsurface and its uses. We are responsible for the clear and easily accessible provision of subsurface-related knowledge and information.

In addition, within the framework of our statutory tasks laid out in the Mining Act and the National Key Registry of the Subsurface (BRO) Act, GDN is responsible for the entire subsurface data information chain. We collect all kinds of subsurface-related (research) data, manage them, and make them available via our portals, which include the BROloket, DINOloket, and NLOG. We publish our digital subsurface models for various applications through the same channels.

Advisory task

We advise the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth (KGG) on the exploration and production of minerals and geothermal energy and the underground storage of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and geothermal energy. We also estimate and forecast mineral reserves. GDN carries out its advisory task under the Mining Act. In addition to KGG, we also advise other ministries and local authorities on mining and subsurface issues such as subsidence and drought.

Research task

GDN conducts applied, innovative geoscience research. We do this in areas such as geo-energy, natural resources, subsidence, and groundwater. Our research contributes to societal challenges such as the energy transition, soil and water quality, and resource scarcity.