Rise of Radio Astronomy in the Netherlands

Radio astronomy was born during the Second World War, but as this book explains, the history of early Dutch radio astronomyis in several respects rather anomalous in comparison to the development of radio astronomy in other countries. The author describes how these verydifferences led the Netherlands to become one of the world leaders inradio astronomy. Dominated by the Leiden astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort, the field embarked on anera of success, and to this day, the country still holds a leading position. To tell this story, the book focuses on three key events inthe period 1940-1970, namely the construction of the radio telescopes in Kootwijk (1948), inDwingeloo (1956), and in Westerbork (1970). These projects show that Dutch radio astronomers must notbe seen as merely scientists, but also as strategic lobbyists, networkers and organizers in a specificpolitical and economic context. It was in the process of planning, designing and constructingthese instruments that the interests of the astronomers, industrial partners, politicians and lobbygroups merged to create today's existing research centers for radio astronomy.