The funeral monument of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek can be admired inside the Oude Kerk of Delft.
Leeuwenhoek died at the age of 91, leaving enough money to be buried in the Oude Kerk (Old Church). His daughter Maria had a beautiful mausoleum built in honor of her father. Leeuwenhoek’s friend and poet Huibert C. Poot wrote a respectful epitaph, which can still be read in the Oude Kerk1.
In 1686, Leeuwenhoek bought two graves in the northwest section of the Oude Kerk. Almost four decades later, he was buried in one of them, but his body didn’t stay there very long before it was moved. Leeuwenhoek was buried beside his wife Cornelia in August 1723. However, his daughter Maria gave the money for the burial niche set into the tower wall in 1739.
The two inscriptions on the monument are in Latin. The first is behind the fence just under the skull resting on crossed bones: “Patri Charissimo Hoc Monumentum Filia Maria A Leeuwenhoek Moerens P.” (Dobell’s translation: “To her most beloved Father this monument his daughter Maria van Leeuwenhoek mourning has erected”).
Above the skull and under the profile of Leeuwenhoek on the obelisk is a longer inscription. Dobell translated it: “To the fond and everlasting memory of Antony van Leeuwenhoek, Fellow of the English Royal Society, who, by detecting through diligent application and scrutiny the mysteries of Nature and the secrets of natural philosophy by means of microscopes invented and marvellously constructed by himself, and by describing them in the Dutch dialect, has earned the highest approbation of the whole world. Born at Delft 24 October 1632, and died in the same place 26 August 1723”.
This memorial was designed by Taco Jelgersma and scultped by Gerrit van der Giesen.
On the floor in front of the niche, the inscription on the tombstone reads: “Here rests Anthony van Leewenhoek Oldest member of the Royal Society in London, Born in the city of Delft on 24 October 1632, And died on 26 August 1723, being 90 years, 10 months, and 2 days old. To the reader”.
Previous information was retrieved and adapted from: https://lensonleeuwenhoek.net/content/oude-kerk-memorial (March 2026)
- Photos by Luca Borghi ti.supmacinu|ihgrob.l#| (August 2025)
- Locate the item on this Google Map