History

Introduction of the metric system
The metric system became a legal requirement in 1816. Local calibrators (each with their own calibration identification mark) were tasked to supervise this legally. This task was passed to regional inspectors approximately 60 years later. This calibration task was incorporated in the Dutch Weights and Measures Act, which served as a guarantee for honest transactions.

The Dutch Office of Weights and Measures
After various improvements in the intervening years a new calibration act came into force in 1937 whereby the Dutch Office of Weights and Measures, as part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, was made responsible for the implementation of this new law.

Holland Metrology
Metrology covers a much wider area than the Calibration Act does. The Dutch Office of Weights and Measures was therefore privatised on 1 May 1989 under the name Holland Metrology NV, firstly, to enable the authorities to concentrate on governmental tasks and, secondly, to utilise the existing knowledge in the calibration task group and to offer this knowledge and experience to companies.

TNO
The TNO organisation (TNO Bedrijven BV) has acquired full ownership of Holland Metrology NV on 21 February 2001.

Metrology Act
The Dutch Weight and Measures Act was replaced on 30 October 2006 with the Metrology Act.