The Big Ear

Satellite Earth Station 12, better known by its local name "It Big Ear" or "The Big Ear" was the center of a wiretapping riot in the Netherlands in 2014. It was opened in 1973 by the PTT and is the only Dutch ground station for international connections via communication satellites. It is owned by KPN Satcom and operated by Stratos (formerly Xantic). After the attacks of 11 September, the Dutch government decided to establish the National SIGINT Organisation (NSO) to coordinate the liaison intelligence of the AIVD and MIVD. This was accompanied by an increase in the demand for satellite capacity. In 2005, NSO turned to the Stratos site in It Grutte Ear for the construction of 22 new dishes. The dishes, with a diameter of 11 metres, are intended to accommodate all passing satellite traffic in the context of the fight against terrorism. As a result, the Netherlands grew into the largest 'eavesdropper' in Europe.

Dromos