Although we knew Dick was suffering from health problems, the news of his passing has touched us deeply. He will be dearly missed for his unparalleled contribution to science, but also for his inspirational guidance and leadership. He was a role model for young and old, with a warm personality and genuine interest in others. Dick’s mission was to work towards a cleaner environment for a healthy life for animals and humans.
Dick had a great talent for discovering topics for the research of the future: in the Netherlands he was one of the driving forces behind research into endocrine disruption in the aquatic environment, focusing on estrogenicity (the LOES project), and he was tireless in his efforts to obtain funding for research into microplastics.
The work on micro and nanoplastic kept him engaged even after his retirement, and he was the inspiring nestor and co-coordinator of the MOMENTUM project that was financed by ZonMw and Health Holland, a tangible result of Dick’s perseverance to engage research funding agencies. He was always available for interviews and newsflashes, striving for greater awareness among the general public by providing explanations of scientific facts.
Earlier this year, Dick reflected on his career in an insightful interview (in Dutch):
https://impuls.zonmw.nl/impuls/impuls-3/interview/
Dick was a passionate scientist and a passionate man. He will be intensely missed. Our thoughts are with his wife, son, close family and friends.
On Tuesday 27 August, a memorial get-together will be held at the Vrije Universiteit.