About the Arctic Centre

The Arctic Centre was founded in 1969 by a group of scientists of the University of Groningen. Originally its purpose was to stimulate the study of languages and cultures of arctic and sub-arctic peoples. During the 1970s however, when archaeologists, biologists and geographers joined, the scope of the Arctic Centre widened. It not only became a platform for polar research in the Netherlands, but it also developed a multi-disciplinary research programme aimed at getting a better understanding of the arctic environment and its use by people in past and present times. Recently the geographic reach of the Arctic Centre was extended by including the Antarctic regions as an area of study.

At present, the Arctic Centre functions as an information centre for polar research in the Netherlands. Part of this research is carried out at the centre itself, by the archaeologists, biologists, ecologists, geographers and historians participating in the centre in close co-operation.

The Arctic Centre offers courses for students as part of their bachelor program. The courses are truly multidisciplinary both in content and in the discipline from which the students originate.

The Arctic Centre represents the Netherlands in the Council and Executive Committee of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC).

The Arctic Centre represents the Netherlands in the following working group meetings:

Arctic Monitoring Assessment Programme (AMAP)

Workinggroup for Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)

Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG)

The Arctic Centre is also represented in the Interdepartementaal Polair Overleg (IPO), the Commisie Polair Onderzoek (CPO).

 

The Arctic Centre hosts the secretary of the Willem Barentsz Polar Institute.

The Dutch Arctic Station in Ny Ålesund, Spitsbergen is coordinated by the Arctic Centre.