Andre Geim, the acclaimed physicist known for co-discovering graphene, is now facing an unexpected diplomatic hurdle: the loss of his Dutch citizenship. This development stems from his decision to accept British knighthood and adopt British citizenship thirteen years ago, leaving him in a perplexing situation regarding his national identity.

In an email, Geim described his feelings of annoyance and sadness, stating that he considers himself a "Dutch-British" individual, emphasizing the significance of his ties to the Netherlands, where he made pivotal contributions to physics at Radboud University in the 1990s. The decision by the Dutch government, according to Geim, is particularly odd, given his status and contributions.

Born in Russia in 1958 to German parents, Geim became a Dutch citizen while on his scientific journey. In 2010, he received the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking work in creating graphene, alongside Konstantin Novoselov. Despite his achievements, Geim now faces the daunting task of surrendering his Dutch passport, facing warnings from Interpol should he fail to comply. This incident highlights the complexities of citizenship laws, especially regarding those who hold multiple national identities.