The prize, initiated by Anno Fekkes during the 1996 ATypI conference in The Hague, is awarded every three years by the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague together with the Museum Meermanno, under the auspices of the Dr. P.A.
The prize is named after Gerrit Noordzij, who was a professor of typeface design at the Royal Academy of Art (a course that was founded by him).
For the continuity of the prize, the Gerrit Noordzij Fund was created.
In addition to this, each time the prize is awarded, an exhibition about the work of the previous winner is organized, accompanied by a publication.
Through the years, the jury has consisted of: Different books have been published about, in honor of, or presented at the exhibitions: