Prof. J.L. van Soest 1898-1983
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As to be expected, most exhibits have an experimental character.
The oldest objects are from the collection of professor van Soest, who started the research
for defence purposes at Waalsdorp in 1927. His collection covers the period from 1927 to 1940.
Prof. J.L. van Soest 1898-1983
Much of the material of that era was deliberately destroyed following the invasion of the Netherlands
by the Nazis in May 1940. Methodical collecting has ceased since that time. Moreover, the move
of the Physics Laboratory TNO to the present TNO-FEL building in 1967 was accompanied by
the disappearance of old material.
Nevertheless, many old items (and even a few from before 1940) came to light around 1977
when the Physics Laboratory TNO prepared a survey exhibition for its 50th anniversary.
This event started the beginning of a permanent exhibition. Some items from LEOK were added in
1984
when the Physics Laboratory TNO and LEOK (then also TNO) were merged into the Physics and
Electronics Laboratory TNO.
All this resulted in a historical survey although, alas, some considerable gaps remain caused by e.g.
missing hardware.
The museum WAALSDORP has a Public Relations function of the present day TNO-FEL and is open on request, but not publicly accessible.
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