# Christiaan Eijkman

_Dutch physician (1858–1930)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/christiaan-eijkman
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Christiaan Eijkman was a Dutch physician and professor of physiology whose demonstration that beriberi is caused by poor diet led to the discovery of antineuritic vitamins (thiamine). Together with Sir Frederick Hopkins, he received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1929 for the discovery of vitamins.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 11 August 1858 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107609#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Nijkerk ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107609#P19))
- **Died:** 5 November 1930 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107609#P570))
- **Place of death:** Utrecht ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107609#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Kingdom of the Netherlands ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107609#P27))
- **Occupation:** physician; biochemist; university teacher; physiologist; bacteriologist; pathologist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107609#P106))
- **Education:** University of Amsterdam; Pasteur Institute ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107609#P69))
- **Positions held:** rector of Utrecht University (1912–1913) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107609#P39))
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; John Scott Award ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107609#P166))

## Questions

**When was Christiaan Eijkman born?**  
Christiaan Eijkman was born on 11 August 1858 in Nijkerk.

**What positions has Christiaan Eijkman held?**  
Positions held by Christiaan Eijkman include: rector of Utrecht University (1912–1913).

**Where did Christiaan Eijkman study?**  
Christiaan Eijkman was educated at University of Amsterdam, Pasteur Institute.

## Related

- [Ben Feringa](https://diginpl.com/people/ben-feringa)
- [Frits Zernike](https://diginpl.com/people/frits-zernike)
- [Gerard 't Hooft](https://diginpl.com/people/gerard-t-hooft)
- [Heike Kamerlingh Onnes](https://diginpl.com/people/heike-kamerlingh-onnes)
- [Martinus J. G. Veltman](https://diginpl.com/people/martinus-j-g-veltman)
- [Nicolaas Bloembergen](https://diginpl.com/people/nicolaas-bloembergen)
- [Nikolaas Tinbergen](https://diginpl.com/people/nikolaas-tinbergen)
- [Paul J. Crutzen](https://diginpl.com/people/paul-j-crutzen)
- [Simon van der Meer](https://diginpl.com/people/simon-van-der-meer)
- [Frederik Jacobus Johannes Buytendijk](https://diginpl.com/people/frederik-jacobus-johannes-buytendijk)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Christiaan Eijkman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiaan_Eijkman) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q107609](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107609) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Christiaan Eijkman (1923).jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christiaan_Eijkman_(1923).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Christiaan Eijkman, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Christiaan Eijkman (1923).jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Christiaan Eijkman". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/christiaan-eijkman. Retrieved 5 November 2026.
