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Nicolaas Godfried van Kampen (Leiden, 1921) is a Dutch theoretical physicist, primarily active in the research field of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics of non- equilibrium processes. Van Kampen studied physics at the University of Utrecht, from which he graduated in 1947. He performed his Ph.D research at the University of Leiden under the supervision of H.A. Kramers. On January 16th, 1952, he obtained his doctorate for his Ph.D research entitled "Contribution to the quantum theory of light scattering." After having worked in the group of S.R de Groot in Leiden for several years, Van Kampen returned in 1955 to the Institute for Theoretical Physics "Instituut voor Theoretische Fysica" at the University of Utrecht. Here he was appointed professor after a number of years. Until his retirement he remained connected the University of Utrecht.

His book "Stochastic processes in physics and chemistry," published in 1981, can be considered to be a standard work on stochastic processes. In 2002 he published the book "Waanwetenschap" (English title "Delusional Science"), in which he attacked those "scientific" endeavors he considers delusional; the book received a mixed reception. Five professors, among them Vicent Icke, Floris Takens and Dennis Dieks wrote each a commentary to his book

Van Kampen is an uncle of the Dutch physicist and Nobel prize laureate Gerard 't Hooft, and he stimulated 't Hooft to study physics in Utrecht. Van Kampen himself is a nephew/cousin of Frits Zernike, another well known physicist and Nobel laureate. Van Kampen is member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.