Organisation
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Paul Bogaard,
GDN SecretaryCall
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Organisation
The Geological Survey of the Netherlands (GDN) employs a total of 285 people, spread over four departments. They spend their days putting fundamental and applied knowledge about the subsurface to work for society.
Our people and departments
Our employees develop applied knowledge, technology, and information products, with which we support policymakers and the business community, and advise governments on the use of the subsurface. We employ geologists, physical geographers, engineers, and, because of our data management expertise, a relatively high number of geo data scientists and IT specialists.
Three main tasks
As a knowledge partner of the Dutch government, GDN has three main tasks: we collect, manage, and disclose information on the subsurface (our information task); we advise public authorities on the use of the subsurface (our advisory task); and we develop applied knowledge on the subsurface and subsurface-related technology (our research task). These tasks have been laid out in the Geological Survey of the Netherlands Agreement between the State of the Netherlands and TNO.
• Information task
Within the framework of our statutory tasks laid out in the Mining Act and the National Key Registry of the Subsurface (BRO) Act , GDN collects all kinds of subsurface-related (research) data. We manage these data and make them accessible via portals such as BROloket, DINOloket, and NLOG. Using the same channels, we also create and disclose digital models of the subsurface for various applications. Our GeoData & IT and Geomodelling departments carry out our information task.
• Advisory task
Within the framework of the Mining Act, we advise the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) on the exploration for and production of minerals and geothermal energy, and on storage in the subsurface. We also create estimates and forecasts of mineral reserves. Increasingly, we are also advising local governments and other ministries, for example on mining-related issues, but also on other topics, such as soil subsidence and drought. Responsibility for the execution of our advisory task lies with the Advisory Group for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (TNO-AGE), with support from other groups.
• Research task
We conduct applied earth science research on geo-energy, raw materials, the energy transition, subsidence, and groundwater, amongst other things. Our Applied Geosciences and Geomodelling (and, increasingly, GeoData & IT) departments carry out our research task.
Part of TNO
GDN is part of TNO, where it is incorporated into the Energy & Materials Transition unit. Both within the unit and throughout the rest of TNO, we are able to quickly and easily connect with other knowledge domains regarding, for example, sustainable energy sources, energy transition policy, buildings and infrastructure, or for high-end IT expertise. You can read more about the energy transition focus area on the TNO website by clicking the blue button below.
Would you to like to find out more about our organisation?
Please contact Paul Bogaard, GDN’s secretary, via the blue ‘mail directly’ button below.
