The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (Dutch: Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut, pronounced [ˈkoːnɪŋklək ˈneːdərlɑnts ˌmeːteːjoːroːˈloːɣis ɪnstiˈtyt]; KNMI) is the Dutch national weather forecasting service, which has its headquarters in De Bilt, in the province of Utrecht, central Netherlands.

[3] The year before Professor Ballot had moved the Utrecht University Observatory to the decommissioned fort at Sonnenborgh.

[5][6] Whenever a disaster occurs within Europe which causes the emission of toxic gases or radioactive material into the atmosphere, it is of utmost importance to quickly determine where the atmospheric plume of toxic material is being transported by the prevailing winds and other meteorological factors.

KNMI's role in supplying information during emergencies is included in municipal and provincial disaster management plans.

Civil services, fire departments and the police can be provided with weather and other relevant information directly by the meteorologist on duty, through dedicated telephone connections.