This publication was prepared for the Tropenbos Foundation as a background document for the 1997 seminar 'Research in Tropical Rain Forests; Its challenges for the future'. It provides an overview of Dutch research on tropical rain forests, and includes a diskette with the Dutch tropical rain forest research project database, which was developed in the course of the study. The results are analysed in terms of structure and organisation of research, geographical orientation, thematic orientation, research volume, main institutions involved, and approximate level of funding. The report includes chapters on methodology used, and Dutch policy on, tropical rainforests and research. The research was reviewed against in view of the Netherlands' policy, and current issues in conservation and management of tropical rain forests.