Cj Van Nieuwenburg

Vocation

Chemical engineer, professor and rector of Delft Technical University. After finishing the Hogere Burgerschool Van Nieuwenburg studied chemical technology at Delft Technical University (TU). He became a chemical engineer in 1911 and dissertated on 16 October 1914 , 3 pm at Delft TU under promotor W. Reinders with the thesis ”De stabiliteit der mercurohalogineden” (The stability of mercury halogens). From 1920 to 1960 Van Nieuwenburg was Professor in Analytic Chemistry at Delft Technical University. His speciality was microanalysis, the chemical identification and quantitative analysis of very small amounts of chemical substances, as is for instance done with samples of blood. In 1934 he became chairman of the Commission Internationale des Réactions et Réactifs nouveaux of the Union Internationale de Chimie. His last lecture on 1 July 1960 had the title ”Veertig jaar microanalyse, een terugblik” (Forty years microanalysis, a look back). Personal notes Van Nieuwenburg seems to have been a very private person. He died in 1985 at age 95. Historical notes From May 1940 till February 1942 Van Nieuwenburg was rector magnificus at Delft TU. This period was marked by the German occupation of the Netherlands and student revolts against Nazi practices. On Monday 25 November 1940 3000 students in Delft and many students in Leiden went on strike as a protest against the on 22 November 1940 announced German "Berufsverbote" for Jewish civil servants, including their Jewish professors. The Delft strike started on Saturday 21 November 1940 with a speech of TU student Johan Barthold Frans van Hasselt (26 Feb 1913, The Haque - 10 Nov 1942, Buchenwald). The Germans reacted by closing the University on Wednesday 25 November 1940. On 15 April 1941 the TU was reopened under close German supervision. Van Nieuwenburg could stay as a rector, but the by the Nazi's appointed NSB mayor (since 1 April 1941) of Delft Frederik Willem van Vloten had the actual power. Van Nieuwenburg resigned in February 1942. Early 1943 the Dutch higher education went down as all students had to work in Germany. Many students went underground. Link to Verzet van Delftse studenten en docenten tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog