Legacy

Out of this unquenchable thirst for knowledge grew his profound admiration for scientists. This in turn gave birth to the prestigious Dr H.P. Heineken Prize and Dr A.H. Heineken Prizes, which are awarded every two years.

Alfred Heineken was born on 4 November 1923 in Amsterdam. From an early age it was clear that Alfred would be the third generation Heineken who would take over the management of the brewery. Thanks to his vision and intuition the company has evolved into a leading player in the world beer market.

But Alfred Heineken was much more than a respected businessman. He was a man of unbridled curiosity, for whom science and art were not so much an enrichment of life as a necessity of life. ‘Deep down, my father was an inventor, a man with an inquiring mind’, says his daughter, Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken.

Alfred Heineken had great respect for science and its practitioners, and he was also fascinated by art. He felt, from a young age, that they were not given the recognition they deserved. So, he established a number of foundations with a view to eventually using them to fund prizes for scientists. With regular donations to the foundations from Alfred Heineken, and prudent invest­ment management, enough capital had been accumulated by the late 1980s to fund biennial prizes for researchers working in the fields of biochemistry and biophysics, medicine, environ­mental sciences, history, and art. In accordance with Alfred Heineken’s wishes, the prizes are awarded by juries appointed by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

Alfred Heineken died on 3 January 2002, but the Heineken Prizes live on as a celebration of scientific and artistic achievement. ‘I want the prizes to act as a stimulus to researchers, as well as a reward for past accomplishments.’

This drive to make a positive impact was strong, and he always valued the contributions of others. The Heineken Prizes reflect that. And like my grandfather, I believe that science is the foundation of all progress. Breakthroughs in research lead to innovations that significantly improve our quality of life, whether through medical advances, economic growth, or sustainability. By recognising and rewarding outstanding scientists, we not only honour their achievements but also inspire others to pursue scientific careers.

The Heineken Prizes, while playing a modest role in this, have become significant awards in international science over the past 60 years. The Heineken Young Scientists Awards are crucial in nurturing the next generation of innovators. This commitment to supporting young talent ensures that the tradition of advancing scientific progress continues. On a personal level, the prizes and awards have a special meaning for me as they connect me to my family’s legacy. I hope we can continue this tradition and carry forward their vision and values, to have even more impact in the future.

I remember his enthusiasm for gaining knowledge and for learning from people like that. He was probably the first person I knew who wanted to discover more about everything. For me, the Heineken Prizes work a bit in the same way. Once I know who the winners are, I find out what they’ve done and it’s always fascinating. It introduces me to new topics in science and the winners are absolute experts in those fields. When someone has dedicated their whole life to understanding one specific protein or one specific era in time, they’re fascinating to listen to. I find the wealth and extent of their knowledge extremely compelling.