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                                                                    Exhibit 12.1

                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I, Richard W. Blickman, certify that:

         1.       I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of BE
                  Semiconductor Industries N.V.;

         2.       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
                  statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
                  necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
                  circumstances under which such statements were made, not
                  misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

         3.       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
                  financial information included in this annual report, fairly
                  present in all material respects the financial condition,
                  results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and
                  for, the periods presented in this report;

         4.       The company's other certifying officer and I are responsible
                  for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and
                  procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and
                  15d-14) for the registrant and have:

                           a)       designed such disclosure controls and
                                    procedures, or caused such disclosure
                                    controls and procedures to be designed under
                                    our supervision, to ensure that material
                                    information relating to the company,
                                    including its consolidated subsidiaries, is
                                    made known to us by others within those
                                    entities, particularly during the period in
                                    which this report is being prepared;

                           b)       [Paragraph omitted in accordance with SEC
                                    transition instructions contained in SEC
                                    Release 34-47986.]

                           c)       evaluated the effectiveness of the company's
                                    disclosure controls and procedures as of the
                                    end of the period covered by this report;
                                    and

                           d)       Disclosed in this report any change in the
                                    company's internal control over financial
                                    reporting that occurred during the period
                                    covered by the annual report that has
                                    materially affected, or is reasonably likely
                                    to materially affect, the company's internal
                                    control over financial reporting; and

         5.       The company's other certifying officers and I have disclosed,
                  based on our most recent evaluation, to the company's auditors
                  and the audit committee of the company's board of directors
                  (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

                           a)       all significant deficiencies in the design
                                    or operation of internal controls which
                                    could adversely affect the company's ability
                                    to record, process, summarize and report
                                    financial data and have identified for the
                                    registrant's auditors any material
                                    weaknesses in internal controls; and

                           b)       any fraud, whether or not material, that
                                    involves management or other employees who
                                    have a significant role in the company's
                                    internal controls over financial reporting.



Dated:  May 11, 2004                                 /s/ Richard W. Blickman
                                                     -----------------------

                                                     Richard W. Blickman
                                                     Chief Executive Officer