# Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute

> research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q516346](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q516346)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Meteorological_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/royal-netherlands-meteorological-institute

## Summary
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) is a Dutch government agency and research institute responsible for meteorological services, including weather forecasting and climate research, headquartered in De Bilt, Netherlands.

## Key Facts
- Founded on January 31, 1854
- Headquartered in De Bilt, Netherlands (coordinates: 52.101111, 5.177778)
- Part of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
- Has 534 employees as of 2024
- Official name: Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut
- Operates under the Dutch government with the official language being Dutch
- Produces weather forecasting services and meteorological products
- Has a YouTube channel with the handle "knmi1854"

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute founded?
A: It was founded on January 31, 1854.

### Q: Where is the KNMI headquartered?
A: The headquarters is located in De Bilt, Netherlands.

### Q: How many employees does the KNMI have?
A: The institute has 534 employees as of 2024.

### Q: What is the official name of the KNMI?
A: The official name is Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut.

## Why It Matters
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute plays a critical role in the Netherlands and the broader region by providing essential meteorological services that help protect lives and property from weather-related hazards. As a government agency, it ensures public safety through accurate weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and research that informs policy decisions. The institute's work is vital for agriculture, transportation, energy management, and emergency preparedness, making it an essential component of national infrastructure and water management systems.

## Notable For
- First established in 1854 as the Netherlands' official meteorological service
- Has produced the Zee-barometer, KNMI-model 1939 (a significant meteorological instrument)
- Maintains the official weather forecasting services for the Netherlands
- Conducts climate research and contributes to international weather attribution efforts
- Has a long history of leadership, with notable directors including C.H.D. Buys Ballot and Felix Andries Vening Meinesz
- Operates the YouTube channel "knmi1854" with significant viewership

### History and Leadership
The institute has a rich history with notable leadership figures:
- C.H.D. Buys Ballot served as director from 1854 to 1890
- Maurits Snellen served from 1890 to 1902
- Cornelis Wind served from 1902 to 1905
- Ewoud van Everdingen served from 1905 to 1938
- Hendrik Gerrit Cannegieter served from 1938 to 1945
- Felix Andries Vening Meinesz served from 1945 to 1951
- Cornelis Jacobus Warners served from 1951 to 1965
- Maarten Krispijn van Aalst has been serving since February 1, 2023

### Operations and Infrastructure
The KNMI operates from its headquarters in De Bilt, with additional facilities and subsidiaries:
- Subsidiary: KNMI for the Caribbean Netherlands
- Social media presence across multiple platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Mastodon
- Website in both Dutch (preferred) and English
- YouTube channel with significant viewership (348,118 as of 2025)
- Produces meteorological products including barometers and weather forecasts

### Research and International Collaboration
The institute engages in significant research and international collaboration:
- Participates in the World Weather Attribution initiative
- Conducts climate research and monitoring
- Maintains historical meteorological records and instruments
- Has international recognition with multiple language Wikipedia pages
- Produces scientific publications and data for academic and public use

### Technical Capabilities
The KNMI utilizes advanced technical infrastructure:
- IPv4 routing prefix: 145.23.0.0/16
- IPv6 routing prefix: 2001:610:178::/48
- API endpoint for data services
- OpenStreetMap identifiers for mapping purposes
- Various institutional identifiers including ISNI, ROR, VIAF, and KVK numbers
- Library and archival collections including historical meteorological instruments and documents

## References

1. [2019](https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderwerpen/onderscheidingen/predicaat-koninklijk/overzicht-predicaat-koninklijk)
2. [Source](https://iatiregistry.org/publisher/knmi)
3. [KNMI - Wij zijn het KNMI](https://www.knmi.nl/over-het-knmi/over)
4. [Zee-barometer, KNMI-model 1939. 1950](https://n2t.net/ark:/33862/collect/715596)
5. GRID Release 2017-01-10
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. [Source](https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/about/)
8. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20101127052629/http://www.knmi.nl/about_knmi/)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Contactgegevens Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut | Overheid.nl](https://organisaties.overheid.nl/113567/Koninklijk_Nederlands_Meteorologisch_Instituut)
11. [Source](https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/collectie/609C5B9B2DB04642E0534701000A17FD)
12. [Source](https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/archief/2.21.249/download/pdf)
13. [Source](https://www.knmi.nl/over-het-knmi/bestuur#1)
14. [Source](https://magazines.rijksoverheid.nl/knmi/knmi-jaaroverzicht/2024/01/2024-in-cijfers-copy)
15. GRID Release 2015-12-14
16. GRID Release 2016-12-06
17. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=145.23.0.0+-+145.23.255.255&type=inetnum)
18. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=2001:610:178::/48&type=inet6num)
19. [Source](https://scholar.social/@knmi@social.overheid.nl/110859929586713798)
20. YouTube API
21. [Source](https://orcid.org/signin)
22. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
23. [Kaart met windrichtingen voor de wereldoceanen. 1860](https://n2t.net/ark:/33862/collect/602753)
24. HAL
25. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
26. Name Suggestion Index