Space Expo in Noordwijk breaks visitor record

The museum is on the rise. Visitor numbers have been climbing steadily over the past few years. After a slow start in 2025, an upward trend began in March, ultimately leading to this new record. "We are obviously very happy with that," says Van Steekelenburg. "And we’re nowhere near our limit. We are constantly innovating on the museum floor, making Space Expo even more relevant than it already is. Furthermore, our marketing campaigns are being further optimized. Our mission is to highlight the importance of space exploration to society for a broad audience. That message is only becoming more important. The impact of innovations stemming from space exploration is enormous - think of navigation, mobile telephony and climate monitoring. These are stories that need to be told."

Future

The director is ambitious when it comes to the future. "In 2026, we are aiming for more than 130,000 visitors. I am convinced we will achieve this." Space Expo is not only important as a communication platform for the space sector; it also makes a significant contribution to the local economy in and around Noordwijk. Research firm Decisio, commissioned by the NL Space Campus, conducted a study on the impact of the space cluster in Noordwijk. The results, released in November 2025, showed that Space Expo supports more than a thousand indirect jobs in the region. "We are a key player in Noordwijk. The museum was originally built as a temporary facility, but it has become an indispensable part of the municipality. In 2026, we will begin planning for a new building. This process should ultimately lead to the realization of a Space Experience Center, which will combine the museum function with a conference center, library and hospitality facilities."