The Network for Industrially COntaminated Land in Europe (NICOLE) is the principal forum that European business uses to develop and influence the technical state of the art in contaminated land management in Europe. A successful and vibrant network, it started through an EU Framework Programme concerted action in 1996, and has been a self-sustaining network independent of EU finances since 1999. NICOLE brings together problem holders, researchers and service providers throughout Europe who are interested in developing and disseminating best practice in the cost-effective, risk based management of industrially contaminated land (ICL) and is open to public and private sector organisations. Nicole strives to interface and, where relevant, work together with other (European) networks and projects such as Clarinet, Cabernet, NATO-CCMS and, of course, with the EU in Brussels.

NICOLE supports the aims of the network through: technical exchanges, network conferences, special interest meetings, brokerage of research and research contacts and information dissemination via a web site, newsletter and journal publications. It operates through a Steering Group (SG), an Industry Subgroup (ISG) and a Service Providers Subgroup (SPG).

After years of neglecting and underestimating the environmental contamination in the 70-80-ties, the increased awareness stimulated industry to join forces and triggered the birth of Nicole. In its initial phase Nicole focussed on the development and application of innovative in situ remedial techniques. Nicole advised in the formulation of the research needs in the European 4th and 5th research framework and played a major role in initiating research projects. For instance the EU 5th framework project PURE was coordinated by the Nicole chairman at that time, Paolo Cortesi.

With the on-going development of techniques the focus moved towards risk based management of contaminated land, which has been the major pillar of Nicole ever since. Also the contents of the Nicole endorsed projects shifted from the purely technical aspects towards the evaluation of risks, the application of monitored natural attenuation and the formulation of best practises. During this period the interest for sustainable land management increased.

During the last years it became clear that with the development and strengthening of the European Union, the harmonization between the European countries is getting more important. This harmonization concerns not only the regulatory aspects but also includes the whole development chain of remediation technologies and contaminated land management.

The new developments in Europe clearly provide new challenges and opportunities for Nicole with respect to knowledge transfer, risk-based land management and actual implementation of in situ techniques.