A 100 years ago, on January 28, 1926 the Laboratory of Entomology was inaugurated with the appointment of Professor Walter Roepke. This joyous milestone certainly deserves celebration, and we will mark it with a week‑long program of activities! Our laboratory, part of Wageningen University & Research, conducts insect research and provides education about insects. The centennial anniversary of our lab is a perfect occasion to showcase what we are working on. To that end, we are organizing a series of events in April and May 2026 that will be open to everyone! In addition, we will hold a reunion specifically intended for current and former employees of the Laboratory of Entomology.
What can you expect?
Symposium and reunion
The symposium will take us on a journey through 100 years of entomological research in Wageningen. With inspiring lectures by former and current researchers and guest speakers.
Date: April 24, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 6:00 PM
— afterwards the reunion will be from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM (for current and former employees)
Insect fair
An art and information market about insects. At this fair you’ll find insect‑related art, street performers, food trucks, insect tasting, organizations linked to insects, and readings from insect books. The market is open to everyone, young and old!
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: Wageningen Campus, Forumplein (building 102)
Droevendaalsesteeg, 26708 PB Wageningen
Exhibition at Museum de Casteelse Poort – “Small Creatures, Big Impact”
For one hundred years, the Laboratory of Entomology at Wageningen University has been studying the role of insects in our lives. This anniversary exhibition invites you to discover how a century of research remains highly relevant today.
Date: 22 March – 28 June 2026
Location: De Casteelse Poort, Wageningen
Exhibition in the Forum library – “A century of bugs: a visual journey of entomological history”
In the last 100 years, the study of insects shifted from collection, pinning, and classification to high-tech investigation. In this exhibition, we show the insects studied at Wageningen University through the lenses of old illustrators, amazing macro-photography and futuristic techniques.
Date: 23 March –3 June 2026
Location: Forum bibliotheek
Film screening “Caterpillar“
Join the adventurous journey of a caterpillar! This film follows the life of a large cabbage white caterpillar. But this ordinary caterpillar experiences many exciting and spectacular adventures before it can become a butterfly. This film tells the story that we, as a laboratory, conduct extensive research on: how and why a caterpillar selects its favorite host plant, how a caterpillar grows, and which natural enemies prevent a caterpillar infestation. A celebrfation of biodiversity on cinema screen!
Note: The narration is in Dutch, but there will be English subtitles.
To get an idea of previous events organised by the Laboratory of Entomology find below a video report of our public activity “Feeding the Future” at the Theater Junushoff, September 28, 2024 (spoken in Dutch, with English subtitles):