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KNAW Voorzitters sinds 1855

KNAW Officials since 1855

Presidents, chairmen, and secretaries of the Academy since 1855

On 26 October 1851, the Royal Academy of Sciences was established to replace the old Royal Institute. The Academy was to focus on the exact sciences. The Government had already benefited more from the advice of the First Category (mathematics and physics) than from that provided by fine arts. After the first Thorbecke Government fell, the new Cabinet extended the Academy’s mission to include “the advancement of linguistics, literature, history and philosophy”. Since that time, the Academy has had two Divisions: Literature (humanities and social sciences) and Natural Science (science, medicine and technology). Their meetings were – and are – officiated by appointed chairmen and secretaries. In 1973, the Academy instituted the office of the ‘president’ – an individual who would link the Academy’s two divisions and serve as its figurehead. Functions (click to jump to list): Presidents • Chairmen of the Arts Department (Afdeling Letterkunde) • Secretaries of the Arts Department • Chairmen of the Science Department (Afdeling Natuurkunde) •Secretaries of the Science Department • Secretaries for foreign members Presidents of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences

  • 1973-1978: H.B.G. Casimir
  • 1978-1981: S. Dresden
  • 1981-1984: A.M. Donner
  • 1984-1990: D. de Wied
  • 1990-1996: P.J.D. Drenth
  • 1996-1999: P.J. Zandbergen
  • 1999-2002: R.S. Reneman
  • 2002-2005: W.J.M. Levelt
  • 2005-2008: F.P. van Oostrom
  • Since 2008: R.H. Dijkgraaf

Department of Arts (Afdeling Letterkunde) return to top Chairmen

  • 1855-1856: J. Bake
  • 1857-1858: J. van Hall
  • 1859-1861: J. de Wal
  • 1862-1888: C.W. Opzoomer
  • 1889-1891: A. Kuenen
  • 1892-1907: H. Kern
  • 1908-1917: P.D. Chantepie de la Saussaye
  • 1918-1920: C. Snouck Hurgronje
  • 1920-1929: C. van Vollenhoven
  • 1929-1942: J. Huizinga
  • 1942-1945: No official chairman was appointed during this period
  • 1945-1949: E.M. Meijers
  • 1949-1964: B.A. van Groningen
  • 1964-1968: G.E. Langemeijer
  • 1968-1978: S. Dresden
  • 1978-1981: J. van der Hoeven
  • 1981-1984: G.R.F.M. Nuchelmans
  • 1984-1987: D.J. van de Kaa
  • 1987-1990: A.S. van der Woude
  • 1990-1993: P.W. Klein
  • 1993-1999: W.P. Gerritsen
  • 1999-2002: P. Nijkamp
  • 2002-2005: mw. M.A. Schenkeveld-van der Dussen
  • 2005-2008: W.Th.M. Frijhoff
  • Since 2008: mw. E.G.E. van der Wall

Secretaries

  • 1856-1863: H.J. Koenen
  • 1864-1893: J.C.G. Boot
  • 1894-1900: C. Bellaar Spruyt
  • 1901-1914: H.T. Karsten
  • 1915-1920: K. Kuiper
  • 1920-1930: J.J. Salverda de Grave
  • 1930-1942: P. Scholten
  • 1942-1945: W.E.J. Kuiper, secretary ad interim
  • 1945: P. Scholten
  • 1945-1948: N.W. Posthumus
  • 1948-1954: F. de Vries
  • 1954-1964: H. Dooyeweerd
  • 1964-1976: H.E. Reeser
  • 1976-1978: J. van der Hoeven
  • 1978-1981: G.R.F.M. Nuchelmans
  • 1981-1984: J.G. Sauveplanne
  • 1984-1987: P.J.G. Kapteyn
  • 1987-1990: P.J.D. Drenth
  • 1990-1996: P. van Dijk
  • 1996-1999: A.S. Hartkamp
  • 1999-2002: H. Franken
  • 2002-2008: J.W. Zwemmer
  • Since 2008: J.J.A. Thomassen

Department of Science (Afdeling Natuurkunde) return to top Chairmen

  • 1855: J. van Geuns
  • 1856: J. van der Hoeven
  • 1857: F.A.W. Miquel
  • 1858-1864: G. Simons
  • 1865-1882: F.C. Donders
  • 1883-1887: C.H.D. Buys Ballot
  • 1888-1909: H.G. van de Sande Bakhuyzen
  • 1910-1921: H.A. Lorentz
  • 1921-1931: F.A.F.C. Went
  • 1931-1947: J. van der Hoeve
  • 1947-1954: A.J. Kluyver
  • 1954-1960: M.W. Woerdeman
  • 1960-1966: C.J. Gorter
  • 1966-1975: P.J. Gaillard
  • 1975-1978: J. de Boer
  • 1978-1981: J. Lever
  • 1981-1984: D. de Wied
  • 1984-1987: J.H. van der Waals
  • 1987-1990: Th.J. de Boer
  • 1990-1996: P.J. Zandbergen
  • 1996-1999: R.S. Reneman
  • 1999-2001: J. de Swaan Arons
  • 2001-2005: P.C. van der Vliet
  • Since 2005: J.W.M. van der Meer

Secretaries

  • 1855-1863: W. Vrolik
  • 1864-1878: C.J. Matthes
  • 1879-1895: C.A.J.A. Oudemans
  • 1896-1911: J.D. van der Waals
  • 1912-1920: P. Zeeman
  • 1920-1927: L. Bolk
  • 1927-1937: B. Brouwer
  • 1937-1954: M.W. Woerdeman
  • 1954-1961: J.F. Koksma
  • 1961-1974: mw. C.H. MacGillavry
  • 1974-1978: J. Lever
  • 1978-1984: F.A. Stafleu
  • 1984-1987: J.T. Wiebes
  • 1987-1990: E.P.J. van den Heuvel
  • 1990-1999: K. Vrieze
  • 1999-2002: J.E. Mooij
  • 2002-2007: R. Kaptein

Secretary for foreign members 2007-2008: R. Kaptein Since 2008: E. Noort return to top