We received the sad news that Cees de Visser passed away on November 27, 2025. Cees de Visser, originally a chemist, was the general director of NWO from 2006 until his retirement in 2011. During this period, NWO strengthened its international position and its connection with other parties in the Dutch knowledge sector. Additionally, NWO worked on further developing its thematic programming, partly stimulated by the growing emphasis on innovation and valorisation in national research policy.
We remember Cees as a passionate, involved director with an eye for his employees. He was interested in everyones expertise and opinion and gave employees every opportunity to have their voice heard. At a time when NWO consisted of relatively autonomously operating areas, Cees acted as a connecting link.
Besides his role at NWO, Cees de Visser was also very active in society, with roles as director and supervisor on a wide range of themes: healthcare, social housing, climate, and support for Dutch detainees abroad. For all his merits, he was honored in 2010 as a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau. His personal and working life came together when he arranged for the meetings for laureates of the NWO Spinoza Prize to take place in the Spinoza house in Rijnsburg.
We wish the relatives of Cees much strength in this difficult time. He will be missed.
Marcel Levi, chairman of the board of directors NWO
