This publication presents the outcome of a peer review of the overall waste management programme within the Netherlands, whose programme has been carefully formulated for the particular circumstances of a country with a limited nuclear power industry, albeit with prospects for some expansion. The Netherlands has opted for long term storage of spent fuel, and COVRA (Central Organization of Radioactive Waste) is the recognized collecting service for this activity. The review was carried out following the requirements set out in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR-Part 5 on the Predisposal Management of Radioactive Waste and should be of considerable interest to the many countries contemplating national waste management and spent fuel policies, implementing strategies and evaluation of their safety.