2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/73871This article is based on the author's inaugural lecture at the University of Cologne on 24 January 2003.To appear in Nieuw Archief voor WiskundeHistory and OverviewSymplectic Geometry01A45; 53DxxChristiaan Huygens and contact geometrytext