In a surprising turn of events, renowned physicist Andre Geim has learned that he is no longer a Dutch citizen, a consequence of his decision 13 years ago to adopt British citizenship in order to receive a knighthood. The Dutch government has informed him that he must return his passport to the embassy in London or risk legal repercussions from Interpol due to strict regulations against dual nationality.
Geim expressed his frustration in a recent statement, describing his situation as “extremely annoying." Born in Russia in 1958, he became a Dutch citizen during the 1990s while making significant contributions to physics at Radboud University in Nijmegen. He holds a Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded in 2010 alongside Konstantin Novoselov, for their pioneering research in creating graphene, an ultra-thin yet incredibly strong material.
Reflecting on the gravity of his situation, Geim noted, “Personally, I consider myself a Dutch-British Nobel Prize winner (in this order). The history and my time living and working in the Netherlands are very close to my heart.” The decision to strip him of his citizenship has left him feeling "sad and odd," given his longstanding connection to Dutch culture and academia.
