PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency was established in May 2008 when the Netherlands Institute for Spatial Research (RPB) merged with the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP). The merger came about as part of the Government Reform (Vernieuwing van de Rijksdienst) programme, which resulted in the activities of RPB and MNP being transferred to PBL.

PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency is the national institute for strategic policy analysis in the fields of the environment, nature and spatial planning. PBL contributes to improving the quality of political and administrative decision-making by conducting outlook studies, analyses and evaluations in which an integrated approach is considered paramount. Policy relevance is the prime concern in all of the studies. PBL conducts solicited and unsolicited research that is independent and scientifically sound.