Behind every queue, traffic jam, and emergency response system lies a mathematical story about uncertainty. From 3–5 June 2026, the Department of Mathematics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, together with CWI, hosted StochMod 2026, the premier forum for researchers in stochastic modeling. Organizers Joost Berkhout and Rob van der Mei (also affiliated with CWI) welcomed exactly 100 participants from 18 countries.
Over three days, researchers exchanged the latest advances in queueing theory, stochastic optimization and decision-making under uncertainty, with applications ranging from emergency medical services and call centers to traffic and energy networks. Keynote lectures by Ton Dieker (Columbia University), Johan van Leeuwaarden (Tilburg University) and Rouba Ibrahim (University College London) highlighted both (novel) fundamental theory and real-world impact.
One participant neatly summarized the atmosphere of the conference in three words: “Big names, rising stars, fantastic coffee.” The hand-drawn conference logo by Joost Berkhout was also well received: it combines classic stochastic modeling elements (Gaussian curves, the random variable X, and a die) into the shape of a Dutch windmill.
For more information about the event, see www.stochmod2026.nl.
StochMod 2026 in Amsterdam
10 June 2026
StochMod 2026 in Amsterdam