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Historical Alumni

Which genius engineers, inventors, entrepreneurs, architects and professors discovered their field at TU Delft? You will find the answer on the Alumni Walk of Fame on the Delft campus. The Alumni Walk of Fame features a combination of historical alumni whose achievements left a lasting mark and contemporary alumni recognized as the pioneers of tomorrow. The plaques are a reminder - and hopefully a spark - for students taking their first steps in the field of technology. 

In the context of the 180th anniversary of the university, 23 plaques have been added to the Walk of Fame: people who showed courage dared to explore new possibilities, were ahead of their time and often had a healthy dose of stubbornness. These alumni, born between 1900 and 1950, laid the foundation on which the current generation of engineers builds. Get to know the elementary work and ground breaking research of these historic alumni. Be sure to visit the Delft Alumni Walk of Fame in the Mekelpark for a walk down memory lane.

23 plaques have been added to the Walk of Fame

In the context of the 180th anniversary of the university, 23 plaques have been added to the Walk of Fame: people who showed courage dared to explore new possibilities, were ahead of their time and often had a healthy dose of stubbornness. These alumni, born between 1900 and 1950, laid the foundation on which the current generation of engineers builds.

Get to know the elementary work and ground breaking research of these historic alumni. Be sure to visit the Delft Alumni Walk of Fame in the Mekelpark for a walk down memory lane.

Dr. ir. Lewis Cohen Stuart

Dr Ir Lewis Cohen Stuart graduated from TU Delft (then the Royal Academy for the Education of Civil Engineers) in 1848 with a degree in Civil Engineering. After completing his studies, he began working in Delft as a tutor (repetitor). The following year, in 1849, he spent a few months studying in Leiden with Frederik Kaiser and Gideon Jan Verdam.

Prof. dr. ir. Martinus W. Beijerinck

Prof Dr Ir Martinus W. Beijerinck graduated from TU Delft (then the Polytechnic School) in 1872, with a degree in Chemical Technology. He obtained his Doctor of Science degree from Leiden University in 1877.

Prof. dr. ir. Jacob Kraus

Prof Dr Ir Jacob Kraus graduated from TU Delft (then the Polytechnic School) in 1883, with a degree in Civil Engineering. After graduating, Kraus started working as an engineer with the State Railways (Staatsspoorwegen), where he worked on construction of the railway between Groningen and Delfzijl.

Ir. Maria Elisabeth Bes

Ir Maria Elisabeth Bes graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1904, with a degree in Chemical Technology. She was the first female graduate of the Delft Institute of Technology and one of the first women in the Netherlands to obtain a degree in engineering.

Prof. dr. ir. Hein Israël Waterman

Prof Dr Ir Hein Israël Waterman graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1911, with a degree in Chemical Technology. Two years later, he obtained his doctorate under J. Böeseken with a thesis entitled ‘On several factors that influence the development of Penicillium glaucum’.

Prof. dr. ir. Albert Jan Kluyver

Prof Dr Ir Albert Jan Kluyver graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1914, with a degree in Chemical Technology. He obtained his doctorate at the age of 26 with his thesis ‘Biochemical sugar determination’ (Biochemische suikerbepaling) under Professor Gerrit van Iterson.

Prof. ir. Willem Schermerhorn

Prof Ir Willem Schermerhorn graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1918, with a degree in Civil Engineering. Afterwards, he worked for the Delft Institute of Technology as an assistant in geodesy.

Dr. ir. Johan van Veen

Dr Ir Johan van Veen graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1919, with a degree in Civil Engineering. After graduating, he went to work for the Drainage Agency (Ontwateringsbureau) of the Provincial Department of Transport and Public Works of the province of Drenthe.

Prof. dr. ir. Hendricus Jacobus van der Maas

Prof Dr Ir Hendricus Jacobus van der Maas graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1923, with a degree in Maritime Engineering. Immediately afterwards, he started working for the Government Service for Aeronautical Studies (Rijksstudiedienst voor de Luchtvaart, RSL) in Amsterdam.

Dr. ir. Jacobus H. van ’t Hoff

Dr Ir Jacobus Henricus (Henry) van ’t Hoff graduated from TU Delft (then the Polytechnic School) in 1871, with a degree in Chemical Technology. After having spent a year working and studying in Leiden, he left for Bonn where he worked in the famous laboratory of Friedrich Kekulé.

Dr. ir. Cornelis Lely

Dr Ir Cornelis Lely graduated from TU Delft (then the Polytechnic School) in 1875, with a degree in Civil Engineering. After graduating, he first had temporary employment as a leveller. After that, he worked as an engineer for the Ministry of Water Management, where he assisted Minister Johannes Tak van Poortvliet in drawing up his Canal Act.

Prof. dr. ir. Gerrit van Iterson

Prof Dr Ir Gerrit van Iterson graduated from TU Delft (then the Polytechnic School) in 1901, with degrees in Chemical Technology and Microbiology. Afterwards, he became an assistant to Beijerinck, who had taught him in the preceding years.

Prof. ir. Marinus Jan Granpré Molière

Prof Ir Marinus Jan Granpré Molière graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1907, with a degree in Architecture. After completing his studies, he worked for the Rotterdam Municipal Public Works Department from 1910 to 1914.

Prof. ir. Albert Sybrandus Keverling Buisman

Prof Ir Albert Sybrandus Keverling Buisman graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1912, with a degree in Civil Engineering. In 1919, he was appointed professor at the Delft Institute of Technology.

Prof. ir. Johannes Theodoor Thijsse

Prof Ir Johannes Theodoor Thijsse graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1917, with a degree in Civil Engineering. After his studies, he joined the ‘Zuiderzee State Committee’ in 1918. In 1920, he became an engineer with the Zuiderzee Project Department.

Ir. Dirk Coster

Ir Dirk Coster graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1919, with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Under the guidance of Manne Siegbahn, he conducted research on X-ray spectroscopy of different elements at Lund University in Sweden in 1920 and 1921.

Prof. dr. ir. Antonia Elisabeth Korvezee

Prof Dr Ir Antonia Elisabeth Korvezee graduated from TU Delft (then the Delft Institute of Technology) in 1922, with a degree in Chemical Technology. After graduating, she worked as an assistant, first in the department of analytical chemistry and from 1924 to 1938 in the laboratory of Scheffer.

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