The Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute manages a world-famous collection of living fungi, yeasts and bacteria. It is a centre of expertise for mycology and for research into moulds and fungi.

The Westerdijk Institute investigates the taxonomy and evolutionary biology of select groups of fungi. It also makes use of molecular and genomic methods to study the biology and ecology of fungi. It provides useful answers to questions relevant to the general public, medicine, industry and specific target groups.