Amito Haarhuis

Amito Haarhuis is the Director of Rijksmuseum Boerhaave in Leiden, the Netherlands. Rijksmuseum Boerhaave is the Dutch National Museum of the History of Science and Medicine. It tells the stories of the major discoveries in the history of science in the Netherlands, the scientists behind them, and the impact of their discoveries on our lives today.

Amito Haarhuis has spent his whole career working on quality science education, from being a STEM teacher trainer and author of a study book for student teachers, a presenter of science experiments in a television show, to creating memorable experiential learning experiences in a science museum. As the Deputy Director of NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam, he was concerned with transforming the museum in a 21st century context. Since 1 April 2018, he is the Director of Rijksmuseum Boerhaave. After a major transformation, the museum received the European Museum of the Year Award 2019. Haarhuis is also a columnist for the science page of the Dutch national newspaper De Telegraaf.

Amongst others, he is Fellow of the Noyce Leadership Institute; Member of the Board of Trustees of Ecsite, the European network of science centres and museums; Board Member of VSC, the Dutch Association of science centres and museums; Director of the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities; Founding Member of the Jury of the ‘Irispenning’, a prize for excellent science communication.