Many people think that if the Netherlands would stop using nuclear energy, expertise on nuclear engineering and radiation protection would no longer be needed. Nothing could be less true. Many sectors are dealing with radiation and radioactivity. Think of the application of radioactive substances in hospitals (for diagnosis and therapy) and industry (assessment of welding or measurement of asphalt thickness in road construction). In addition, the presence of such materials plays a role in dwellings (natural radioactivity in building materials and in the soil), the safety of mining operation, geothermal energy, the gypsum/cement/phosphate industry, and other applications.

In 2020, a report³⁴ was commissioned by the ANVS, drawn up by a committee that included André van der Zande (former DG RIVM), Carolien Leijen (chair of the NVS, the professional association of radiation protection experts) and Bert Wolterbeek (director of the reactor institute Delft). This committee noted that in the Netherlands, knowledge in the fields of nuclear engineering, safety, and that of radiation protection, has withered down to a critical point. Causes are shrunk budgets, disbanded departments, retirement, and the fact highly skilled people have moved abroad. The question is whether this message has been heard by policymakers.

In 2020, for example, attempts were made within EZK to decrease the subsidy for research into nuclear engineering and radiation protection by 50%—cut it in half. Almost every ministry or inspection body has something to do with radiation protection or nuclear safety and technology. However, the government does not seem very concerned about the fact that knowledge and research on these subjects is eroding. This has two main causes:

1. The fact that it is a 'small' subject in most ministries, with at most two policy officials dealing with these subjects on a part-time basis. Often, these officials also must cover many other topics.
2. The fact that nuclear knowledge deficits in ministerial departments leads to having difficulty formulating the right questions to the technical knowledge institutes.

To maintain the current level of knowledge and expertise, an investment of many millions of Euros is needed. We therefore recommend that the Dutch government reserves a budget for this in the short term.

33 https://www.awti.nl/documenten/adviezen/2021/02/17/advies-rijk-aan-kennis
34 https://www.autoriteitnvs.nl/documenten/rapporten/2020/06/11/naar-een-agenda-en-platform-nucleaire-technologie-en-straling