Nobel Prize winners

Without any doubt the Nobel Prize is the most prestigious prize in science. The prize was first granted in 1901. Since that time, it has been awarded to a number of Utrecht scholars.

The form and extent of their ‘relationship with Utrecht’ varies widely: from a brief enrolment as a student (Röntgen), or a short-lived professorship (Debye), to a long and important relationship (Eijkman and Veltman), or even a full one (‘t Hooft). R.Magnus was to be awarded the Nobel prize in 1927 had he not died unexpectedly.

G. ‘t Hooft (1946) – Physics in 1999 – ‘To calculate that which is still far out of our reach’
M.J.G. Veltman (1931) – Physics in 1999 – ‘What’s in the box?’
P.J. Crutzen (1933) – Chemistry in 1995 – ‘In thirty or forty years the hole in the ozone layer will have disappeared’
N. Bloembergen (1920) – Physics in 1981 – ‘Laser, a blessing for humanity’
T.C. Koopmans (1910-1985) – Economics in 1975 – ‘Helping to combat the crisis’
L.S. Ruzicka (1887-1976) – Chemistry in 1939 – ‘Musk, civet and testosterone’
P. Debye (1884-1966) – Chemistry in 1936 – ‘Aber das ist doch ganz einfach’
C. Eijkman (1858-1930) – Medicine in 1929 – ‘The foundation of the science of vitamins’
R. Magnus (1873-1927) – designated winner in 1927 – ‘Reflexes, posture and balance’
W. Einthoven (1860-1927) – Medicine in 1924 – ‘Not a coil but a wire’
W.C. Röntgen (1845-1932) – Physics in 1901 – ‘For the entire community’
J.H. van ‘t Hoff (1852 – 1911) – Chemistry 1901 – ‘ Totally absorbed in his discovery’