Lili Bleeker

Dr Caroline Emilie "Lili" Bleeker (17 January 1897 – 8 November 1985) was a Dutch entrepreneur and physicist from Middelburg known for her designs and the manufacturing of optical instruments. She would emerge as one of the first women in the Netherlands to become a doctor in physics and mathematics. After earning her PhD, she founded a physics consultancy firm, which served as an influence for the formation of TNO, and extended her firm by establishing a small factory where scientific and optical instruments were produced.

Dr Bleeker's firm took a huge hit during the Second World War. Bleeker, along with her partner Gerard Willemse

Early life and education Caroline Bleeker was born on 17 January 1897 as the youngest of five children to John Lambert Bleeker, a local Lutheran preacher, and Martha Gerhardina Döhne, a housewife. She grew up in Middelburg and showed great brilliance as a young child, skipping a year in primary school. Although Bleeker was a top student, she was discouraged by her mother from continuing her studies. However, Bleeker had her sights set on education.

In 1916, she enrolled at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands to study physics and astronomy. Bleeker became a teacher at an all-girls secondary school to pay her tuition, but soon left to become a private tutor, Almost all other orders were also cancelled. The company also shrank in terms of staff due to evacuations, and was only kept open due to Jewish people in hiding in the building.

Immediately after the liberation, the factory was cleaned up and restarted with the help of most of the employees. Dr Bleeker received a royal distinction and repair credit from the Dutch government. The new building was designed by Dirk van der Lingen and was opened by Minister In 't Veld.

At this new location, the workforce increased even further, from around 120 employees to 150 by1953. In this new factory, the production of new products was started, such as larger microscopes. New types of prism telescopes were also introduced to the market. but to no avail. In 1978, NEDOPTIFA closed its doors. The factory building was demolished in 1992.