For more than 100 years, Royal NLR has been an ambitious knowledge organization with a deep-rooted desire to continue to innovate. Based on this motivation, we make the world of transport safer, more sustainable, more efficient and more effective. And for the next 100 years, too, we mainly look ahead. Together with our partners, we can shape the fascinating world of tomorrow. We are on the threshold of breakthrough innovations. But plans and ideas only get moving when they are well fed with the right energy. And the special thing is, that source is still exactly the same as in 1919 when we started. That driving force, that is NLR's knowledge.

In 1919, the National Aviation Research Service (RSL) was established with the aim of increasing the safety of military aviation. However, the rapid rise of civil aviation led the RSL to focus on that sector as well. In 1937, the RSL was converted into a foundation (the NLL and subsequently NLR), which has provided a better basis for scientific research for the national aircraft industry.

The advent of the digital computer gave research an enormous boost. New facilities, such as flight and air traffic simulators, were created to respond to the demand for information on the use of aircraft in military and civil aviation. NLR has responded to public attention for sustainable, safe and efficient air traffic by carrying out a large number of projects with national and international partnerships.