I visited the Gymnasium in The Hague and passed my final examination (in the sciences section) in 1943.

Nevertheless, if I have at times been able to make original contributions in the accelerator field, I cannot help feeling that to a certain extent my slightly amateur approach in physics, combined with much practical experience, was an asset.

My father was a schoolteacher and my mother came from a teacher's family.

Dit is geen kroeg of studentehuis. Dit is een ziekenhuis en het is niet de bedoeling dat hier 's avonds een jolige of rumoerige sfeer hangt. Jullie zijn opgenomen omdat jullie ziek zijn. Het moet hier niet te gezellig worden.

Last year, I got to the final, and I didn't expect to do that. And then this year, being section champion — it gives me confidence because I know I can do it.

In 1912, when I was working in The Hague, I first saw a drawing by Louis Sullivan of one of his buildings. It interested me.