Dutch technology. United in flight.
On 25 June, NAG-LRN celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special event that brought together members, partners and stakeholders from across the Dutch aerospace sector. The afternoon celebrated five decades of innovation, collaboration and achievement, while marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter with the launch of the organisation’s new name: AeroNL.
The celebration was opened by Paul Eijssen, Managing Director of NAG-LRN, who welcomed guests and reflected on the importance of working together to strengthen the Dutch aerospace ecosystem.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Maarten Steinbuch (TU/e, NRG2flyEFC), a leading expert in advanced technological systems and sustainable mobility. In his inspiring presentation, he explained how the acceleration of sustainable air mobility requires a holistic ecosystem approach, driven by cutting-edge technologies and strengthened through collaboration across disciplines.
A special moment during the afternoon was the farewell to Aad Veenman, Chair of Lucht- en Ruimtevaart Nederland (LRN). His longstanding dedication and significant contribution to the Dutch aerospace sector were recognised in a tribute by Steffen de Vries, Member of the Board and Treasurer of LRN and CEO of Aeronamic.
Guests were then taken on a journey through NAG’s history with a special anniversary video, followed by a retrospective by Lex Besselink, Chairman of the Board of NAG-LRN. Reflecting on the past 50 years, he highlighted the organisation’s role in connecting companies, knowledge institutes and government partners to strengthen the Dutch aerospace industry.
The highlight of the celebration was the unveiling of the organisation’s new identity. Paul Eijssen introduced the new name, AeroNL, together with a fresh, contemporary visual identity that reflects the organisation’s ambitions for the future. The rebranding symbolises more than a new look; it marks the start of a new era, reinforcing AeroNL’s commitment to innovation, international collaboration and sustainable growth.
The event also marked the introduction of AeroNL’s new brand promise: “Dutch technology. United in flight.” The tagline captures the strength of the Dutch aerospace ecosystem, where world-class technology, entrepreneurship and expertise come together to advance aviation and space, both nationally and internationally.
The anniversary celebrations concluded with networking drinks, giving attendees the opportunity to reconnect, exchange ideas and celebrate this important milestone together.
The accompanying photographs capture some of the highlights of the afternoon, including the keynote presentation, the farewell to Aad Veenman, the unveiling of AeroNL and its new visual identity, and the networking reception that concluded the celebrations.
AeroNL would like to extend its sincere thanks to the event sponsors – Fokker GKN, Aeronamic and RTX – whose generous support helped make this special anniversary celebration possible.
