He took his doctoral degree at Leiden University 30 October 1974, where his thesis, Chinese Vernacular Fiction, the Formative Period, was completed under the direction of A.F.P.
The Introduction says that Idema "masterfully integrates translation with cultural-historical contextualization, in what over the years has become a uniquely recognizable style.
"[6] They commented that his body of work "is exceptional in its inclusiveness and its ability to let different historical periods, genres and issues speak to one another."
[7] In a review of the field of Chinese literature, Robert E. Hegel declared "Wilt L. Idema's studies in Chinese Vernacular Fiction: The Formative Period are definitive statements on vernacular literature in general, on the short story, and on the long pinghua.
Idema was the 1992 Winner of the Martinus Nijhoff Vertaalprijs [nl] (Dutch National Translation Award).