Pastoor Schmeits Prize
The Pastoor Schmeits Prize is a prize for exceptional astronomical research by an astronomer or space researcher who is Dutch or works in the Netherlands, for work performed before their 40th birthday. The prize is named after Pastor Maria Paschalis Schmeits, a Jesuit priest (1851 - 1919) from Sittard, and is awarded by the Pastoor Schmeits Foundation for Astronomy.
Pastoor Schmeits had diverse interests: in addition to his pastoral work, he occupied himself with architecture, music, literature, history, botany and zoology. In the last part of his life, astronomy fascinated him especially. In June 1919 he instated the 'Pastoor Schmeits Foundation for Astronomy', which had a starting capital of 2000 guilders.
Awardees / Prijswinnaars
| 2028 | Will next be awarded at NAC2028 |
2025 | Else Starkenburg & Yamila Miguel |
| 2022 | Diederik Kruijssen |
| 2019 | Selma de Mink |
| 2016 | Jason Hessels |
| 2013 | Richard Bouwens |
| 2010 | Amina Helmi & Joop Schaye |
| 2007 | Eline Tolstoy & Simon Portegies Zwart |
| 2004 | Peter van Dokkum |
| 2001 | Pascal Ehrenfreund |
| 1998 | Koen Kuijken |
| 1995 | Rens Waters |
| 1991 | Xander Tielens |
| 1989 | Michiel van der Klis |
| 1986 | Ewine van Dishoeck |
| 1983 | Jan van Paradijs |
| 1980 | Henny Lamers |