Wim T. Schippers refused to host the 2003 edition of De Nationale Wetenschapsquiz, because the questions where published one week too early in TV magazine VPRO Gids, before the recording of the show. Karen van Holst Pellekaan, who was a candidate in last year's De Nationale Wetenschapsquiz (2002), took over his role. In this edition their were no candidates, but candidates from previous years returned to the show to explain answers to the questions.