The Netherlands Bioinformatics Centre (NBIC) represents a network of cooperating groups in the field of bioinformatics. These groups provide the broad range of expertises necessary to advance data-driven research in modern life sciences. The NBIC network comprises core groups from universities, medical centres, knowledge institutes and industry in the Netherlands. NBIC initiates, coordinates and organizes activities in this network to establish a bioinformatics community and strengthen this interdisciplinary field. Activities of the NBIC network are organized along three lines: research, support, and education. Each of these lines is strengthened by specialized programmes.