What is NeCEN?
The Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy (NeCEN) is an open-access research facility providing access to high-end cryo-electron microscopy in The Netherlands. Since 2026, NeCEN operates across two locations: NeCEN-Utrecht at Utrecht University and NeCEN-Leiden at Leiden University. NeCEN offers research institutes and companies, both Dutch and international, access to advanced cryo-electron microscopy technologies and expertise. The cryo-electron microscopes at NeCEN are specifically designed to investigate complex biological structures and are used by researchers from academia and industry.
Mission
The mission of NeCEN is to provide access to cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy technology and expertise. NeCEN offers a range of services, from specimen preparation and data collection to image processing and training. Research institutes and companies are welcome to apply for access to NeCEN's services and expertise.
History
Between 2007 and 2011, experts from eleven organisations in The Netherlands worked together in a consortium to establish NeCEN. In 2012, NeCEN opened its doors in Leiden as the first open-access, high-end cryo-EM facility in the world. Since then, NeCEN has continued to develop as a national facility for cryo-EM. Today, NeCEN operates at both Leiden University and Utrecht University and is part of EMPower, a €33 million NWO investment to establish a national electron microscopy facility and strengthen access to advanced electron microscopy infrastructure and expertise in The Netherlands.