The agency is located in the premises of the European Patent Office (EPO), in Rijswijk, near The Hague.
It assumes its functions from the rijksoctrooiwet (Royal Patent Act).
Johannes Bob van Benthem was President of the Netherlands Patent Office from 1968 to 1977.
[1] According to the rijksoctrooiwet, both Curaçao and Sint Maarten may establish regional offices, that can receive applications for a Dutch patent.
Further administrative actions are performed by the Netherlands Patent Office.