# Westerdijk Institute

> Dutch mycology research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q2619527](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2619527)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westerdijk_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/westerdijk-institute

## Summary
The Westerdijk Institute is a Dutch mycology research institute founded in 2000, specializing in fungal biodiversity and culture collections. It is part of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and located in Utrecht.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 2000 under the name Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), later renamed after mycologist Johanna Westerdijk.
- Located in Utrecht, Netherlands, at coordinates 52.0898597 latitude and 5.1773606 longitude.
- Operated as a division of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).
- Director is Pedro Willem Crous since 2002.
- Maintains significant global identifiers including ISNI 0000000403688584, ROR ID 030a5r161, GRID ID grid.418704.e, and VIAF ID 147799193.
- Official website is https://wi.knaw.nl/.
- Known aliases include Central Bureau of Fungal Cultures and CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre.

## FAQs
### Q: What does the Westerdijk Institute specialize in?  
A: It specializes in fungal biodiversity research, culture collections, and mycological studies, serving as a global authority on fungal taxonomy and preservation.

### Q: Who is the institute named after?  
A: It is named after Johanna Westerdijk, a pioneering Dutch mycologist who led the predecessor institution CBS for over three decades.

### Q: How is the Westerdijk Institute affiliated with other organizations?  
A: It is directly affiliated with the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and collaborates with international academic networks.

### Q: When was the institute established?  
A: The institute was established in 2000, evolving from the earlier Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures founded in 1904.

## Why It Matters
The Westerdijk Institute represents a cornerstone of fungal science globally, preserving over 100,000 fungal strains in its culture collection—crucial for biodiversity studies, biotechnology, and medical research. Its work underpins discoveries in antibiotics, biofuels, and ecosystem health. As a KNAW institute, it bridges academia and industry solutions, enabling breakthroughs in sustainable agriculture and pharmaceutical development. By maintaining the world’s largest fungal collections, it safeguards genetic diversity essential for climate adaptation and disease mitigation, making it indispensable for addressing global challenges like antimicrobial resistance and food security.

## Notable For
- Houses one of the world’s largest fungal culture collections (over 100,000 strains).
- Named after Johanna Westerdijk, the first woman to become a full professor in the Netherlands.
- Hosts the CBS Fungal Biodiversity Centre, a leading taxonomic authority in mycology.
- Employs Pedro Willem Crous, a highly influential mycologist in fungal systematics and plant pathology.
- Unique integration of research, culture preservation, and academic publishing under one institutional framework.

## Body
### History and Evolution
- Founded in 2000 as the Westerdijk Institute, evolving from the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), established in 1904.
- Historical aliases include Centraal Bureau voor Schimmelculturen and CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre.
- Current native label: Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute.

### Organizational Structure
- Parent organization: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).
- Director: Pedro Willem Crous (since 2002).
- Based in Utrecht, Netherlands, with physical coordinates 52.0898597, 5.1773606.

### Scientific Focus
- Core discipline: Mycology (fungal research).
- Specializes in fungal biodiversity, taxonomy, and culture preservation.
- Manages culture collections critical for medical, agricultural, and industrial applications.

### Global Recognition
- Maintained recognized identifiers: ISNI, ROR, GRID, VIAF, and Ringgold ID 141042.
- Featured in academic publisher projects like Wikidata:WikiProject Academic Publisher.
- Wikipedia coverage in English, Spanish, Dutch, and Russian languages.
- Academic authority record in Harvard Index of Botanists (ID: 91202).

### Digital Presence
- Official website: https://wi.knaw.nl/
- Bluesky social handle: westerdijkinst (with DID: did:plc:cuq3x4yphlwrk3yqewssuxz6).
- Discontinued Microsoft Academic ID: 66913435.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. GRID Release 2015-12-14
4. GRID Release 2016-12-06
5. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File