Diederik Jekel (; born 22 June 1984) is a The Netherlands science journalist, television presenter and physics. In 2018, he was elected president of the Dutch Physical Society (NNV).
Career
Jekel was born in
Bilthoven, the
Netherlands. He studied physics at Twente University, where he obtained a Master's degree in physics in 2010.
Since 2011 he regularly appeared in the early-evening Dutch television talk show
De Wereld Draait Door to discuss science-related topics. In 2013, he acted as a host alongside Matthijs van Nieuwkerk and Isolde Hallensleben, in the spin-off television programme
De wereld leert door, in which scientists were interviewed about their research.
Between 2015 and 2018, Jekel explained scientific concepts and experiments in the Dutch television game show
Professor Nicolai & Dr. Beckand, presented by
Ruben Nicolai and
Tijl Beckand. In 2016, he won the
National IQ Test with an IQ of 137.
He was one of the contestants in the 17th season of the Dutch television show Wie is de Mol? where he finished in 3rd place.
Since 2021, he appears as one of the Champions in Beat The Champions, the Dutch adaptation of the British game show The Chase's spin-off Beat the Chasers.
In 2022, he looked at historic scientific experiments in the Dutch television series Jekels Jacht.
Jekel and Jon Karthaus are the script writers of the 2022 Dutch feature film Costa!!.
Jekel and Anna Gimbrère won the Irispenning 2025 award for their contributions to science communication.
Selected filmography
As presenter / host / expert
-
De wereld leert door (2013)
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Professor Nicolai & Dr. Beckand (2015 – 2018)
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De Kennis van Nu (2018, 2019)
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Brard & Jekel: VetGelukkig?! (2020)
-
Jekels Jacht (2022)
As expert
-
Beat The Champions (2021 – 2023)
As contestant
-
National IQ Test (2016)
-
Wie is de Mol? (2017)
-
The Masked Singer (2020)
-
De Verraders (2021)
-
Het Zwaard van Damocles (2025)
Awards
Publications
Jekel's publications include:
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Ironing out , Master's thesis Twente University, 2010. In Dutch.
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Zeven rampen die niet gaan gebeuren, Contact, Amsterdam, 2011. In Dutch.
-
Bèta voor alfa's, Uitgeverij Atlas Contact, Amsterdam, 2014. Reeks Kleine boekjes. In Dutch.
-
with André Kuipers et al., Antidepressiva en agressie, wiskunde redt mensenlevens, Hannover Messe. DVD video, NTR, Hilversum, 2014. In Dutch.
External links
