# Simon van der Meer

_Dutch physicist (1925–2011)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/simon-van-der-meer
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Simon van der Meer was a Dutch particle accelerator physicist who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1984 with Carlo Rubbia for contributions to the CERN project which led to the discovery of the W and Z particles, the two fundamental communicators of the weak interaction.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 24 November 1925 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104779#P569))
- **Place of birth:** The Hague ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104779#P19))
- **Died:** 4 March 2011 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104779#P570))
- **Place of death:** Geneva ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104779#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Kingdom of the Netherlands ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104779#P27))
- **Occupation:** physicist; inventor ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104779#P106))
- **Education:** Delft University of Technology; Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104779#P69))
- **Spouse:** Catharina M. Koopman ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104779#P26))
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Physics; honorary doctor of the University of Amsterdam; Honorary doctors of Ghent University; Dennis Gabor Medal and Prize ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104779#P166))

## Questions

**When was Simon van der Meer born?**  
Simon van der Meer was born on 24 November 1925 in The Hague.

**Where did Simon van der Meer study?**  
Simon van der Meer was educated at Delft University of Technology, Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Simon van der Meer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_van_der_Meer) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q104779](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104779) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Simon van der Meer in the AA Control Room (cropped).jpg by CERN (CC BY 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Simon_van_der_Meer_in_the_AA_Control_Room_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Simon van der Meer, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Simon van der Meer in the AA Control Room (cropped).jpg — CERN, CC BY 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Simon van der Meer". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/simon-van-der-meer. Retrieved 5 November 2026.