Image: GAUSS Research Foundation
In Memoriam: Dr. Durk van Willigen
1934 – 2026
Professor van Willigen founded Reelektronika, blended GNSS and eLoran.
Professor Dr. Durk van Willigen, founder and director of the Netherland’s Reelektronkia BV and long-time positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technology leader, passed away on October 20. He was 92.
Dr. van Willigen received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Netherland’s Delft University of Technology in 1985. As an appointed professor in Electronic Navigation Systems at the university, he headed a group of researchers and students for 11 years. His group was very active in the field of GPS receiver signal processing algorithms to reject multipath (MEDLL) and interference. The team was also heavily involved in several national and international projects for advanced guidance and navigation displays focusing on developing and evaluating synthetic vision systems.
In 1975, Dr. van Willigen founded the Netherlands’ company Reelektronika as a technological spin off from the university. The consultancy specializes in radio positioning systems, navigation, radar, and signal processing for land, marine and aeronautical applications.
Dr. van Willigen and his team began developing Eurofix, an integrated navigation system combining GPS and Loran-C/eLoran for differential GNSS and data integrity, in 1989. In 2017, the company announced a miniaturized, 6cm long integrated GNSS/eLoran/Chayka receiver.
The International Loran Association awarded Dr. van Willigen the Medal of Merit in 1996 and the John M. Beukers Award for Technical Innovation in 2005. Dr. van Willigen received the Institute of Navigation’s Thurlow Award in 1999, and the Royal Institute of Navigation’s Gold Medal in 2002.
He was a member of the Advisory Board of the Netherlands Institute of Navigation, a director of the International Loran Association, and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation.
Dr. van Willigen retired from Delft University of Technology in 2000. In 2001, he became Chairman of the non-profit GAUSS Research Foundation, which encourages international cooperation and research in PNT technologies. The Foundation recently established an agreement with Indonesia’s Directorate of Research and Community Service.
Dr. van Willigen continued to serve as Chair at the foundation and as Director at Reelektronika until his passing. He is succeeded in both roles by Dr. Cornelius (Cees) Dekker.
