With preparations for NL Space Week 2025 already in full swing, NL Space Campus welcomes a new addition to the team: Manon Douwes, the new Event Manager for NL Space Week. Manon will be coordinating and supporting the programme in the lead-up to October — helping shape the national celebration of space that brings together professionals, students, and the public.
Bringing Event Expertise to NL Space Week
Manon has spent more than 15 years organising events across sectors, from intimate dinners and roundtable sessions to large-scale openings, including that of a football stadium. Her work has taken her across the Netherlands and abroad, and now she brings that experience to NL Space Week.
“What drew me to NL Space Campus was the opportunity to work on something with societal impact,” she says. “There’s a real energy here! People are not just working on technical solutions but also building bridges between science, industry, policy, and education.”
Stepping Into a Space Community Full of Momentum
Manon was introduced to the community during the NL Space Week 2025 Partner Kick-Off on 1 April at SBIC Noordwijk. The event brought together dozens of organisations from across the Dutch space sector to share plans and align around a shared goal: making this year’s edition the most inclusive and visible yet.
“I was genuinely impressed by the diversity and enthusiasm in the room,” she says. “It wasn’t just space companies — there were universities, research institutes, government bodies, and public engagement experts. What stood out was how openly ideas were shared and how motivated everyone was to work together.”
Creating Space to Inspire and Connect
Looking ahead, Manon hopes the 2025 edition will create real value for everyone involved — from industry professionals to schoolchildren. “I hope people walk away with new connections, fresh inspiration, and a greater appreciation for the role space plays in our daily lives,” she says. “For professionals, that might mean finding new partnerships. For students, it could be discovering a career they hadn’t considered. For the public — especially children — I’d love to spark curiosity and wonder.”
The overarching goal, she says, is to strengthen the Dutch space ecosystem while making it more visible and accessible to a broader audience.
Let’s Make This Week Happen Together
The programme for NL Space Week 2025 is starting to take shape, with flagship events like the ESTEC Open Days, Network & Drinks XL, the Cometlab opening, and Weekend van de Wetenschap already confirmed. We’re now entering the phase of reaching out to the community for new ideas, co-organised activities, and contributions. Manon is actively inviting anyone interested to get involved and help shape what’s next.
“Whether you’ve hosted something before or this is your first time hearing about the NL Space Week, I’d love to hear from you,” she says. “You can reach me at spaceweek@nlspacecampus.eu or by phone. Even if you’re just exploring ideas, or just want to support but not sure how — feel free to get in touch.”
Let us Build It Together
With the Partner Kick-Off behind us and momentum building, NL Space Week 2025 is officially underway. The programme will continue to grow in the coming months, reflecting the full strength and diversity of the Dutch space ecosystem.
The next NL Space Week Partner Meeting happens on 2 June in Noordwijk. If you want to receive in invitation, send an email to Manon at spaceweek@nlspacecampus.eu.
Visit www.nlspaceweek.eu to stay updated or subscribe to the newsletter. For questions or ideas, contact info@nlspacecampus.eu — or reach out to Manon directly.
Let’s build NL Space Week together!
