• KNMI is an operational centre, responsible for weather forecasting, for observing weather and climate, and for the monitoring of seismic activity
• KNMI is the national research and information centre for climate, climatic change and seismology.

Research at KNMI is, therefore, both applied as well as theoretical:

• Applied Research: aimed at improving the quality, usefulness and accessibility of meteorological and oceanographical data (observations and model data), in support of operational forecasting and other applications of weather and waves.
• Climate Research: Research on oceanography; boundary layer processes, clouds and radiation in the atmosphere; the chemical composition of the atmosphere (e.g. ozone); climate variability research; the analysis of climate, climate variability and climatic change, and model support.
• Policy support to the Dutch Government with respect to climate and climatic change and coordination of the Dutch activities in the field of climate monitoring.
• Seismology: Research on and monitoring of seismic activity (earth quakes).