Prof. Med. Kenower Weimar Bash was a Swiss psychiatrist who worked extensively in Iran. He was a fellow at NIAS during the academic year 1973–1974. Upon his death in 1986, Professor Bash bequeathed his estate to the NIAS Fellows’ Association (NFA). The Golestan Foundation was established to manage this estate. Professor Bash wished to create a fellowship and to install a Persian garden (Golestan, meaning “rose garden” in Persian) on the NIAS grounds in memory of his wife.
The Golestan Foundation is mandated to perform the following functions:
- Review fellowship applications received by NIAS for the annual fellowship programme
- Provide financial support for applicants designated as Golestan Foundation fellows
- Through third party investment professionals, manage the financial endowment of the Golestan Foundation, and
- Maintain the Persian Rose Garden, established as a part of the Foundation’s initial plan, on the grounds of NIAS.
NIAS-Golestan Foundation partnership
Prof. Med. Kenower Weimar Bash found his own fellowship at NIAS in 1973/74 so fruitful that he wanted other researchers, preferably from abroad, to benefit as he had. With his bequest, he wanted to encourage researchers from abroad to come to NIAS as fellows.
Originally founded in 1987, the statutes were adapted for the foundation to be named ‘Golestan Foundation’ in 1991. The foundation is administrated by NIAS and overseen by the NIAS Fellows’ Association (NFA).
ANBI information Golestan Foundation
Name: GOLESTAN STICHTING (Golestan Foundation)
Board of the Golestan Foundation
- Chair: Dr. Luc Coffeng
- Treasurer: Mr. Joe Bauman
- Secretary: Dr. Franjo Weissing
Financial compensation policy: the Board does not receive payment for their work.
Contact
Postal Address: PO Box 10855, 1011 EW Amsterdam (NL)
Email via: partners@nias.knaw.nl
RSIN (Legal Entities and Partnerships Information Number): 802598158
Recent activities
Golestan Foundation fellowships were suspended from 2020 to 2023 due to the Covid pandemic. The fellowship programme was reinstated in the 2024–2025 academic year.
In 2024, the Golestan Foundation sponsored the research of one fellow, Dr Toine Pieters of Utrecht University. During his stay at NIAS, Dr Pieters completed substantial portions of a book that explores how past medical breakthroughs influenced both professional and public perceptions of medical research — and how these perceptions, in turn, shape contemporary research, sometimes hindering scientific progress.
Looking ahead, the Golestan Foundation intends to sponsor one fellowship per academic year. However, actual sponsorships will depend on the qualifications and research aims of applicants at the time.
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