New plaque honours microbiologist Johanna Westerdijk
Homage to first female professor in the Netherlands and pioneer in microbiology
Johanna Westerdijk, the first female professor in the Netherlands, is now honoured with a commemorative plaque celebrating her legacy. The plaque was unveiled at the Cantonspark in Baarn. Westerdijk was appointed by Utrecht University in 1917, and made major contributions to the study of fungi and plant diseases. The homage is part of the project by the Royal Dutch Society for Microbiology (KNVM).
On Friday, 11 April 2025, a special plaque was unveiled in Cantonspark in Baarn to honour Johanna Westerdijk, a pioneering scientist and the first female professor in the Netherlands. Westerdijk was appointed by Utrecht University in 1917 and made major contributions to microbiology.
The plaque marks the second 鈥楳ilestone in Microbiology鈥 in the Netherlands, a project by the (KNVM). The milestone celebrates Westerdijk鈥檚 groundbreaking work in researching fungi and plant diseases. She also helped create one of the largest fungal collections in the world and was a strong role model for women in science.
Johanna Westerdijk was a brilliant scientist, but also grew out as a role model for many women in science
鈥淛ohanna Westerdijk was a brilliant scientist, but also grew out as a role model for many women in science鈥, says marine microbiologist Laura Villanueva, one of the KNVM project鈥檚 organisers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely an honour to celebrate her legacy, as a scientist myself.鈥
The celebration took place in the Wintertuin (Winter garden), a monumental greenhouse in Cantonspark. One of the speakers at the event was author Patricia Faasse, who wrote Westerdijk鈥檚 biography, called Een beetje opstandigheid (A bit of rebelliousness). Faasse shared several stories about Westerdijk鈥檚 bold views on science and her belief in the power of women in academia.
The plaque, designed by artist Malou Zuidema, was officially revealed by the mayor of Baarn and Margot Koster, microbiologist at Utrecht University. In this very same place, the Rose Garden of the Cantonspark, Westerdijk once had her experimental garden. The park was also part of Utrecht University Botanical Gardens from 1920 to 1987.
Joint effort
The event was jointly organized by KNVM and the Friends of the Cantonspark Foundation. Organisers were Rob Samson (Westerdijk Institute), Laura Villanueva (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Utrecht University), and Margot Koster (Utrecht University). They have been leading KNVM鈥檚 鈥楳ilestones in Microbiology鈥 project to bring attention to important persons and events in Dutch microbiology.
Previous Milestone
The project鈥檚 first Milestone, unveiled on 13 February 2004 in Delft, honours the Dutch microbiologist and microscopist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723). A third Milestone is in the works, but no details have been published by KNVM yet.