Education and training
Currently, there is no high educational institution offering a Bachelor's degree in the nuclear field.
However, the Delft University of Technology/Technische Universiteit Delft offers two Master's degrees: Chemical Engineering or Applied Physics with Specialisation Nuclear Science and Engineering.
The Eindhoven University of Techonology/Technische Universiteit Eindhoven offers the following possibilities of a specialization: Science and Technology of Nuclear Fusion and Science in Applied Physics/Specialization Plasma Physics & Radiation Technology.
Regarding Doctorate degrees, the Radiation Radionuclides Reactors Department of the Delft University of Technology/Technische Universiteit Delft offers the possibility of choosing the nuclear field as a research area. The University of Groningen/Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, especially through its Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut (KVI) is involved in the nuclear field.
An important training activity in the nuclear field is performed by the Eindhoven University of Techonology/Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, especially in Radiation protection and dosimetry, by the Nuclear Nederland and by the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG).
In the research field stand out the work is carried out at the following institutions: the Delft University of Technology/Technische Universiteit Delft, particularly in Radiation Radionuclides Reactors, the Eindhoven University of Techonology/Technische Universiteit Eindhoven in Coherence and Quantum Technology, Plasma and Materials Processing and Science and Technology of Nuclear Fusion, the European Commission’s-JRC Institute for Energy and Transport; the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG); the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM), and the University of Groningen/Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, specially by its Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut (KVI).
Finally the Fantom international Research School for Fundamental and Applied Nuclear and Atomic Physics, with participants from institutions from the Netherlands (Groningen), Belgium (Gent, Leuven), Germany (Münster) and France (Orsay/Paris) has the University of Groningen as its principal coordinator.
The Netherlands Nuclear Society (NNS) has a big interest in improving the nuclear high education as well as Kivi Niria and the Dutch Knowledge Infrastructure on Nuclear Technology (KINT).
Human resources and knowledge management
Netherlands has one nuclear reactor, BORSSELE 1 (PWR) (1973-2034), generating about 4% of its electricity.
Electricity production in the Netherlands had been liberalized. Several market parties have indicated their interest in building a new nuclear reactor in the country. Because of exhaustion of some of the natural gas fields, and increasing public acceptance of the environmental advantages of nuclear power, there has been a marked shift in the position of some political parties in favor of new nuclear build.
A previous decision to phase out nuclear power had been reversed. In September 2006 the environment minister on behalf of the economics minister submitted to parliament a document entitled, Conditions for New Nuclear Power Plants. An accompanying statement said that the government wanted to move to a sustainable energy supply and that the abandonment of its earlier phase-out policy (deferring BORSSELE 's shutdown to 2033-34) was part of a transition strategy, and nuclear power could reduce carbon emissions. A new nuclear reactor could also be fitted into this transition model.
As public and political support was increasing for expanding nuclear energy, one large new unit was proposed: BORSSELE 2 (PWR). The work on it should start in 2015.
There is also one one research reactor in the Netherlands, in Petten: PALLAS. At the end of 2009, the Province Noord Holland announced it was reserving €40 million for the development of a new PALLAS High Flux Reactor (HFR), the replacement for the present HFR.
The government is to decide on a solution for waste management by 2016, before the new plant becomes operational.