Yesterday marked a significant milestone as we secured a €200 million investment from the Growth Fund for our initiative, Holomicrobiome (www.holomicrobiome.nl). Combined with matching funds, our total budget will be approximately €400 million. This substantial investment aims to drive the Dutch economy forward while fostering a healthy and sustainable society. Today is a momentous day for Dutch microbiology, which has a rich history dating back to Antonie van Leeuwenhoek’s invention of the microscope and Martinus Beijerinck’s establishment of the Delft School of Microbiology. Beijerinck’s famous quote, “Fortunate are those who start now” (“Gelukkig zijn zij die nu beginnen”), holds even greater significance today. Countless students and young scientists will soon embark on their careers in microbiology, once again placing Dutch Microbiology on the global stage a century after Beijerinck’s pioneering efforts.