Stefan van der Linden
Zeer geschrokken las ik hier dit bericht. Albert-Jan was voor mij iemand waar ik ontzettend fijn mee heb samengewerkt, vanwege zijn zeer uitgebreide kennis op allerlei vlakken maar vooral ook omdat hij altijd de tijd nam om elk mogelijke vraag serieus en uitgebreid te beantwoorden. Hij was een warm, open en vriendelijk persoon en iemand die ik zeker heel erg zal missen.
Ik wens Albert-Jan's familie, vrienden en collega's alle sterkte toe in deze moeilijke tijd.
September 4, 2025
Arno Schoenmakers
I just came back from my holidays to find this truly sad news in my mailbox. I did not see that coming at all, so I'm still shocked. I realize he passed away some weeks ago already, and I hope his funeral service gave his family and many friends some consolidation. I remember Albert-Jan as a kind and widely interested person, touching subjects from radio interferometry in space to machine learning. And when he got intrigued by a subject, he would really dive into it and ponder about the benefits for ASTRON. He was invaluable in getting LOFAR2.0 on the rails, in the early days of the design and architecture, and look where we are now, rolling out and commissioning those stations! I think these are also his legacy and I thank him dearly for that, among his many other achievements and successful fundraising activities. I wish his family all the best, in their effort to come to terms with his sudden loss.
August 26, 2025
Ulf Johannsen
I first met Albert-Jan in 2021 when I started a part-time position at ASTRON. Since then, we have had frequent interactions, especially about the plans to establish a radio telescope on the moon - his last email is still marked as a to-do in my inbox... And so it came as a shock to me and my colleagues here at TU Eindhoven when we heard about his sudden passing.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and beloved ones and we wish them all the best for this difficult period!
August 22, 2025
Jasmina Lazendic-Galloway
Albert-Jan was a wonderful colleague and mentor who guided me so thoughtfully as I found my way in a new astro community in the Netherlands. His passion and expertise in radio astronomy were instrumental in bringing together our proposal for a future space mission, and his leadership as our lead engineer will be profoundly missed. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside Albert-Jan. His kindness, knowledge and dedication left a lasting impact, and he will be sorely missed.
August 22, 2025
Violette Impellizzeri
I was barely a day in my new office when a knock came at the door. There he was, a stranger with a smile, paper in one hand and the other stretched out: “Hi, I’m Albert Jan, I have a proposal I’d like to show you.” That was just the start of a great conversation that never really ended. Albert Jan carried so many ideas forward, with endurance, enthusiasm, and an eye for both small and big details. He was the glue that kept ASTRON together, that invisible force that made the institute whole.
The last email I got before leaving on holiday was also from him. I’ll write him back immediately when I return, I thought. I will miss this conversation; but his voice still echoes in all he set in motion.
August 20, 2025
John Swinbank
Albert-Jan was such a great colleague: not only smart and intellectually curious, but also patient and generous with his time. He played a key role in advocating for the importance of technology research at ASTRON, and we had several thought-provoking discussions about that. We had just started working together on a new project proposal, and his enthusiasm and ideas were awe-inspiring.
What a loss to the institute, but also to the wider community, and — most of all, of course — to his family. I'll miss him a lot.
August 13, 2025
Joost Krebbekx
Albert Jan was ook binnen het Innovatie Cluster Drachten (ICD) een graag geziene collega-engineer. Met zijn Astron ervaring op het gebied van AI heeft hij 2 jaren de ICD werkgroep op seniore wijze geleid en richting gegeven aan eerste aanzetten van gezamenlijke projecten. En dat op een bijzondere prettige, aimabele manier.
Namens alle 23 ICD bedrijven, en de werkgroep R&D managers in het bijzonder, willen we dan ook aangeven dat we zijn familie en de Astron organisatie sterkte wensen met dit verlies.
August 12, 2025
Sonia Ghosh
I’ll always treasure the carpool rides from Assen to ASTRON with Albert-Jan. What started as casual chats soon turned into conversations that could span anything from radio interferometry to astrology, to my own reflections on life. He was such a patient listener, never judging, always open to sharing his own thoughtful perspective.
His world seemed to revolve around breaking everything down in terms of signal processing, and he inspired me to see the world the same way. He was one of the most intelligent people I’ve met yet so soft spoken, and always eager to be challenged by complex problems.
He had a quiet way of nudging me forward whenever I felt stuck not with big gestures, but with steady encouragement and silent strength. You will be deeply missed. To his family and friends, my heartfelt condolences. May you find strength in the love and respect so many held for him, and comfort in knowing how deeply he touched the lives of those around him.
August 8, 2025
Joanne Jager
Met verslagenheid heb ik het bericht van het overlijden van Albert-Jan ontvangen. Ik heb recent afscheid genomen van ASTRON en zei op mijn laatste werkdag: ik hoop dat het goed blijft gaan met je gezondheid. Hij had er vertrouwen in. Ongelofelijk dat hij er een week later niet meer is.
Albert-Jan was een zeer fijne collega, altijd steunend, positief en optimistisch. Een man waar je blij van werd.
Ik wens iedereen die hem lief had heel veel sterkte toe!
August 8, 2025
Joe Callingham
Albert-Jan was key to teaching me into how to work with engineers. He was one of the few in the building at ASTRON that could build a bridge between the scientists and engineer - all fuelled by his insatiable curiosity. I will miss him deeply at work. He was not only bright but incredibly kind and patient. The best college one could hope for.
August 8, 2025
René Vermeulen
Albert-Jan heb ik, vanaf mijn komst naar ASTRON in 1996 (voor het WSRT renovatie project) en in ruim vijfentwintig jaren interactie sindsdien, enorm gewaardeerd om zijn zijn grote expertise gekoppeld aan zijn doorzettingsvermogen. In gesprekken met hem kon je altijd rekenen op die constructief-kritische vraag, en daarnaast op zijn nieuwsgierige en creatieve blik. Bijvoorbeeld, uit laatste jaren, bij verkenningen voor innovatief onderzoek naar ruimteweer. Met vele collega's heb ik het geluk gehad regelmatig te ervaren hoe Albert-Jan zich op zijn eigen bescheiden wijze inzette om talloze projecten en ons allemaal vooruit te helpen. Dat hij zijn collega's plotseling is ontvallen is een grote schok, maar dat valt zeker in het niet bij het verdriet voor zijn naasten. Voor hen was Albert-Jan ongetwijfeld nog zo veel belangrijker. Ik kan ze alleen maar heel veel sterkte wensen.
August 7, 2025
Frank van Osselen
Wij wensen de familie, vrienden en collega's veel sterkte met dit verlies. Wij hebben Albert-Jan leren kennen als een fijn, aardig en kundig mens. We zullen zijn betrokkenheid en liefde voor het radiovak missen.
De collega's van het cluster frequentiebeleid van het Ministerie van Economische Zaken
August 7, 2025
Chris Broekema
I will always fondly remember the discussions I had with Albert-Jan on many very diverse topics from system level energy efficiency, to space-based instruments and the different ways to mitigate radio frequency interference. He was always thoughtful and often approached the subject form a unexpected angle. He would listen attentively while you’d explain your brilliant idea, think a bit, and then “Yes, but….”. Followed by that characteristic short little laugh and an argument that more often than not surprised me. I will miss those discussions, and I will miss the person Albert-Jan. We were just about to start a project together on a subject that we were both looking forward to. That we will no longer be able to benefit from his knowledge, experience and kindness is painful, but we will remember him as I believe he would have wanted us to: knowledgeable, dependable and creative in his own unique way.
August 7, 2025
Tammo Jan Dijkema
Albert-Jan was one of those colleagues with a deep understanding of radio interferometry and signal processing. He enjoyed exploring new instruments and finding new ways to use existing instruments. He was always available for a quick question, simple or complex and was genuinely interested in projects of other team members. I will miss him as a kind and thoughtful colleague, a steady presence at the foundation of our group.
August 7, 2025
Hein Zelle
Lieve Albert-Jan,
Zoveel ervaring, al zoveel jaren, op zoveel thema's. Ondanks mijn blanco canvas op het gebied van sterrenkunde en telescopen heb ik het gevoel dat we elkaar vonden, zowel voor de groep als op de inhoud. Je hebt me op een hele prettige manier bijgestaan, met advies, kritiek en af en toe een compliment. Die hebben voor mij heel veel betekend. Ik hoor regelmatig een "virtuele Albert-Jan" over mijn schouder met advies of een waarschuwing. Ik hoop dat die herinneringen aan jou blijven komen nu je er niet meer bent.
De SBe groep staat stevig, mede dankzij jou. We gaan er het beste van maken de komende tijd maar we gaan je ontzettend missen, zowel voor je onuitputtelijke kennis als voor je inbreng als fijn mens in de groep.
Vaarwel!
Hein
August 7, 2025
Joeri van Leeuwen
We zaten nog midden in zoveel mooie, grote, nieuwe plannen. De laatste e-mail die ik heb eindigt, natuurlijk, met “Looking forward, Albert-Jan“. En als je je ogen sluit, hoor je het hem zeggen. De wereld is toch wel minder, nu.
August 6, 2025
Erik van Maanen
I received the message of the passing away of Albert Jan yesterday from a collegue. It makes you think if someone your own age suddenly isnt there anymore. We had infrequent but always interesting contact. Only a few months ago we were discussing our hobby adventures with SDR. I will certainly miss that. Wishing all and especially Albert Jans family strength.
August 6, 2025
Rob Millenaar
Learning about Albert-Jan's passing left me with great sadness. I have come to know him as a very kind, talented, and driven colleague, during the time our careers overlapped for more than 25 years. Both working at the WSRT, and on projects involving Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), for the WSRT, LOFAR and SKA. Since my retirement from ASTRON I had yearly encounters with him when I visited ASTRON from overseas. I was always eager to hear his expert opinion on various matters concerning engineering developments, preventing and mitigating RFI, and the state of the mega-project SKA. When I last visited him in July '25 we talked about radio interferometry on the moon, and as usual his insight was phenomenal.
Now, a month later, he is no longer with us. I will miss these encounters, his dry humour and counsel.
To the loved ones he is leaving behind I offer my deepest sympathy and wish them strength to live with the pain of losing this truly fine human.
August 6, 2025