An exemption from the knowledge embargo is mandatory for study or work in certain fields. This is because these fields provide access to knowledge which could be used to build nuclear weapons and missiles. This page sets out who needs an exemption for study or work and in which fields.
Who needs an exemption from the knowledge embargo?
An exemption from the knowledge embargo is mandatory for:
- master’s students and PhD candidates;
- researchers;
- visiting scholars;
- research assistants with access to certain sensitive knowledge (for example, those working in reactor halls);
- students participating in extracurricular activities involving, for instance, missile technology.
List of courses of study
An exemption from the knowledge embargo is required for the following specialisations and research groups at the following universities.
The exemption requirement applies to the following specialisations and research groups of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering:
- Experimental and theoretical research in hypersonic aerodynamics;
- Re-entry technology;
- Control systems for guidance navigation;
- Launching and payload structures.
The following specialisations and research groups of the Faculty of Applied Sciences:
- Physics of nuclear reactors;
- Specialised knowledge about the design and operation of the reactor hall of the HOR research reactor.
The following specialisations and research groups of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering:
- Microturbine technology;
- Use of materials at extreme high temperatures.
The following specialisations and research groups of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science:
- Radar-based missile guidance.
The following student projects of Delft University of Technology:
- DARE;
- SAPIENCE.
The exemption requirement applies to the following specialisations and teaching and research groups at the Faculty of Engineering Technology:
- Non-linear Solid Mechanics;
- Precision Engineering;
- Applied Mechanics & Data Analysis;
- Dynamics Based Maintenance.
The following student projects involving the study of rocket technology:
- RISE (Rocketry Innovations & Space Engineering);
- Rocket Project AzimUT of Space Society Twente.
The exemption requirement applies to the following fields of study or research at the University of Groningen:
- Experimental and theoretical research on materials engineering.
The exemption requirement applies to the following specialisations and research groups at Eindhoven University of Technology:
- Materials technology;
- Aluminium structures;
- Student projects that involve studying rocket and missile technology, including PR3 Space and VOID.
The exemption requirement applies to the following fields of study or research at Radboud Radio Lab:
- Student project PR3.
- Student projects involving rocket technology, including Aquilo.
Applying for an exemption from the knowledge embargo
You can apply for an exemption with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. You will need to complete the application form and submit a number of documents.
Sanctions orders relating to the knowledge embargo
The following sanctions orders set out how the sanctions are implemented in the Netherlands.
- North Korea Sanctions Order 2017 (information in Dutch)
- Iran Sanctions Order 2012 (information in Dutch)
- Territorial Integrity (Ukraine) Sanctions Order 2014 (information in Dutch)
- Belarus Sanctions Order 2006 (information in Dutch)