Spinoza Prize

Winners of the Spinoza Prize 2006, from left: Jan Zaanen , Ben Scheres , Jozien Bensing , Carl Figdor , on the far right the director of the NWO Peter Nijkamp

The Spinoza Prize (Spinozapremie), named after Baruch de Spinoza , is the highest scientific award in the Netherlands . It is awarded by the Dutch state research association NWO . Annually, up to four people are honored, each receiving 2.5 million euros (as of 2018) for research projects.

Award winners

• 2020: Nynke Dekker (biophysics), Jan van Hest (biochemistry), Pauline Kleingeld (ethics and history of ethics), Sjaak Neefjes (immunology)
• 2019: Bas van Bavel (economics), Ronald Hanson (quantum physics), Amina Helmi (astronomy), Yvette van Kooyk (cell biology)
• 2018: Anna Akhmanova (Cell Biology), Marileen Dogterom (Bionanosciences), Carsten de Dreu (Social Psychology), John van der Oost (Microbiology)
• 2017: Eveline Crone (cognitive developmental psychology), Albert JR Heck (biochemistry), Michel Orrit (biophysicist), Alexander van Oudenaarden (systems biology)
• 2016: Wilhelm Huck (physico-organic chemistry), Lodi Nauta (history of philosophy), Mihai Netea (experimental internal medicine), Bart van Wees (technical natural history)
• 2015: René Janssen (materials science), Birgit Meyer (theology), Aad van der Vaart (mathematics), Cisca Wijmenga (human genetics)
• 2014: Dirk Bouwmeester (physics), Corinne Hofman (archeology of the Caribbean), Mark van Loosdrecht (environmental technology), Theunis Piersma (ecology of bird migration)
• 2013: Mikhail Katsnelson (theoretical physics), Piek Vossen (computer lexicology), Bert Weckhuysen (inorganic chemistry)
• 2012: Mike Jetten (microbiology), Ieke Moerdijk , (algebra and topology), Annemarie Mol (cultural anthropology), Xander Tielens (astrophysics and astrochemistry)
• 2011: Heino Falcke (radio astronomy and astroparticle physics), Patti Valkenburg (media studies), Erik Verlinde (theoretical physics)
• 2010: Naomi Ellemers (social psychology), Marijn Franx (astronomy), Piet Gros (biomolecular crystallography), Ineke Sluiter (Greek language and literature)
• 2009: Albert van den Berg (physics), Michel Ferrari (neurology), Marten Scheffer (ecology)
• 2008: Marjo van der Knaap (pediatric neurologist), Joep Leerssen (literary studies), Theo Rasing (physics), Willem de Vos (microbiology)
• 2007: Deirdre Curtin (international and European law), Marcel Dicke (insect ecology), Leo Kouwenhoven (physics), Wil Roebroeks (archeology)
• 2006: Jozien Bensing (clinical psychology), Carl Figdor (immunology), Ben Scheres (molecular genetics), Jan Zaanen (physics)
• 2005: René Bernards (molecular biology), Peter Hagoort (cognitive neuroscience), Detlef Lohse (physics), Alexander Schrijver (mathematics)
• 2004: Ben Feringa (chemistry), Rien van IJzendoorn (education), Michiel van der Klis (astronomy), Jaap Sinninghe Damsté (marine bio-geochemistry)
• 2003: Lans Bovenberg (economics), Cees Dekker (molecular biophysics), Robbert Dijkgraaf (mathematical physics), Jan Luiten van Zanden (economic and social history)
• 2002: Henk Barendregt (mathematics, computer science), Els Goulmy (immunology), Ad Lagendijk (physics), Frits Rosendaal (clinical epidemiology)
• 2001: Dorret Boomsma (biological psychology), Bert Meijer (organic chemistry), Hans Clevers (clinical immunology), Hans Oerlemans (meteorology)
• 2000: Ewine van Dishoeck (molecular astrophysics), Daan Frenkel (macromolecular simulation), Dirkje Postma (medicine)
• 1999: Carlo Beenakker (physics), René de Borst (mechanics), Anne Cutler (psychology), Ronald Plasterk (molecular biology)
• 1998: Jan Hoeijmakers (molecular genetics), Hendrik Lenstra (mathematics), Pieter Muysken (linguistics)
• 1997: Frederik Kortlandt (linguistics), Herbert Michael Pinedo (Bob Pinedo, medical oncology), Rutger van Santen (inorganic chemistry, catalysis)
• 1996: Johan van Benthem (mathematics), Peter Nijkamp (economics), George A. Sawatzky (physics)
• 1995: Frank Grosveld (molecular cell biology), Edward PJ van den Heuvel (astronomy), Gerardus' t Hooft (physics), Frits van Oostrom (Dutch literature)

Web links

• Spinoza Prize at the Nederlandse Organizatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (nwo.nl)