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 fellowship grants were suspended from 2020-23 due to the Covid pandemic. During 2023, the Board reviewed and updated the fellowship application criteria to ensure that applicants met the minimum requirements of the Golestan Foundation governing documents.
In 2023, the board of the Golestan Foundation restructured its investment guidelines to better align investment activities with its financial objectives.
Also in 2023, the Persian Rose Garden was relocated from NIAS’ previous location in Wassenaar to its current location in Amsterdam.
