List of Dutch astronauts

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As of 2008, The Netherlands is the country of birth to three astronauts, one of whom went to space as an American citizen. Two of the three astronauts flew to space on board a Space Shuttle, while one of them used the Russian Soyuz to reach space.

[edit] Lodewijk van den Berg

The first Dutch-born astronaut to have been to space is Lodewijk van den Berg. He was born March 24, 1932, in Sluiskil, Zeeland. Van den Berg was launched aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on April 29, 1985, as a Payload Specialist of mission STS-51B. During the seven-day mission, Van den Berg conducted several experiments on crystal growth.

At the time of his flight, Van den Berg was not a Dutch citizen, having been naturalized as U.S. citizen.

[edit] Wubbo Ockels

The second Dutch-born astronaut and first Dutch citizen to have been to space is Wubbo Ockels. He was born March 28, 1946 in Almelo, Overijssel. Ockels rocketed towards space aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on October 30, 1985 - just over half a year after Lodewijk van den Berg - as a Payload Specialist of mission STS-61A.

[edit] André Kuipers

The third Dutch-born astronaut and second Dutch citizen to have been to space is André Kuipers. He was born October 5, 1958 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland. Kuipers, unlike his two predecessors, was launched by a Soyuz spacecraft: Soyuz TMA-4. He served as Flight Engineer. During his eleven-day trip towards space, Kuipers conducted twenty-one experiments on a wide range of subjects.

Kuipers is the only Dutch astronaut who is still active. He is training for a six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and currently serves as the back-up of Belgian astronaut Frank de Winne, who will fly his own six-month mission to the ISS late 2009.