He made substantial contributions to algebraic topology and also took an interest in literature, philosophy, history and mathematics education.

[2] Although he was a German Jew, Freudenthal's position in the Netherlands insulated him from the anti-Jewish laws that had been passed in Germany beginning with the Nazi rise to power in 1933.

[3] However, in 1940 the Germans invaded the Netherlands, following which Freudenthal was suspended from duties at the University of Amsterdam by the Nazis.

[3][4] In 1943 Freudenthal was sent to a labor camp in the village of Havelte in the Netherlands, but with the help of his wife (who, as a non-Jew, had not been deported) he escaped in 1944 and went into hiding with his family in occupied Amsterdam.

[6] During this period Freudenthal occupied his time in literary pursuits, including winning first prize under a false name in a novel-writing contest.

[2] In his thesis work, published as a journal article in 1931, Freudenthal introduced the concept of an end of a topological space.

Ends remain of great importance in topological group theory, Freudenthal's motivating application,[10] and also in other areas of mathematics such as the study of minimal surfaces.

Recipients of the medal have included Celia Hoyles, Paul Cobb, Anna Sfard, Yves Chevallard, Luis Radford and Frederick Leung.