Monday the 8th of October 2007 the groundbreaking of De Huygens building took place.

After an introduction speech held by Mr. Krouwels, Director of the construction company "BAM Utiliteistbouw" the first pile was put in the construction ground by using a traditional manually driven pile driver. Both Mr. Pearson C.E.O. and Mr. Smit former C.O.O. of AOES Group B.V. proved having the muscles to get this official foundation in place.

With this groundbreaking BAM lays the basis for an important office, the new headquarters of AOES Group B.V. The delivery of the new headquarters is scheduled for the end of August 2008.

This special moment was witnessed by at least 75 invited people and celebrated with champagne. Among others, representatives of the Noordwijk municipality (including the Manager of the Space Business Park Development), JHK Architecten, the BAM, ESA/ESTEC Director Mr. Courtois and others, journalists and AOES Staff were present.

Followed by a few words from Mr. Pearson, Mr. De Lange, the Noordwijk City Councellor, held a speech marking the start of the construction of the Space Business Park Noordwijk. The establishment of AOES sets an important milestone for the future developments of the Space Business Park.