André Geim, Nobel Laureate, Loses Dutch Citizenship After Accepting British Knighthood

André Geim, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist originally from Russia and a former Dutch citizen, has lost his Dutch citizenship due to his acceptance of British nationality and a knighthood. This development highlights the stringent dual citizenship policies in the Netherlands, which have left Geim feeling "extremely annoyed" and saddened.

In an unexpected turn of events, André Geim, the celebrated physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010, has been stripped of his Dutch citizenship. The news comes as Geim, who acquired British citizenship in 2012 to accept a knighthood, was informed by the Dutch government that maintaining both nationalities is not permissible under Dutch law.

Geim expressed his feelings of frustration, remarking, “extremely annoyed” is an understatement given the significance his Dutch roots hold for him. He elaborated in an email about his emotional connection to the Netherlands, saying, “the history and my time living and working in the Netherlands are very close to my heart.” The former Dutch national is now required to surrender his Dutch passport in London or face potential legal issues with Interpol.

Born in Russia in 1958, Geim’s academic journey led him to the Netherlands in the 1990s, where he made significant contributions in the field of physics at Radboud University. His groundbreaking work, alongside colleague Konstantin Novoselov, laid the foundation for graphene research, ultimately earning them the Nobel Prize.

The case of Geim underscores an ongoing debate about citizenship laws, particularly regarding dual citizenship, in the Netherlands. Many citizens who seek to hold multiple nationalities face similar predicaments, prompting discussions on the need to amend existing legislation to better reflect contemporary global mobility and identity.