Roughly one hundred Dutch researchers – out of a total of 2167 proposals - have applied for a grant in the first ERC Advanced Grant Call. One lucky researcher is Michel Orrit, who just received news that his proposal was granted an award. With his proposal orrit aims to open a molecular view of soft matter physics with optical single-molecule techniques. The main problem to study will be rotational and translational diffusion of fluorescent probe molecules in glass-forming molecular liquids. The study will be generalized to complex fluids and complex solid-fluid interactions important for wetting, adhesion and friction.