Yesterday I wrote about 5 Belgians who changed the world.

But the Netherlands also has its - silent or not - celebrities.

1. Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) — Father of Microbiology

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek developed powerful microscopes and was the first to observe bacteria, sperm cells, and other microorganisms. His discoveries laid the foundation for microbiology and our understanding of microscopic life, with an enormous impact on medicine and biology.

2. Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695) — Scientist and inventor

Huygens was one of the greatest scientists of his time. He did groundbreaking work in astronomy, physics, and mathematics, and invented the pendulum clock, which greatly improved the accuracy of clocks. His insights into light as a wave and his discoveries about Saturn's rings were revolutionary.

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