This article reviews the contributions to the special issues of the annual European Conference on Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy (ECONOS) since its establishment in 2002. The review does not only highlight the developments of the scientific areas related to nonlinear optical spectroscopy in Europe but also shows how different sub‐fields evolved globally because ECONOS evolved as an international meeting attracting participants from all over the world. Four main topical categories are identified: (1) theoretical and instrumental developments, (2) applications to gas‐phase and combustion systems, (3) applications to condensed phase matter, and (4) development and applications of micro‐spectroscopy methods. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.