First, home birth became intangible heritage, and now, since this week, the Netherlands has its first Professor in Midwifery Science, Ank de Jonge. Her message to women: “Don’t impose your views on others”.
The Netherlands has its first midwife Professor in Midwifery Science, Ank de Jonge (54). Last Friday APH researcher Ank de Jonge delivered her inaugural lecture at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. "A celebration for Midwifery," is what she called it. She is not only the first with an full academic chair in Midwifery, but also the first midwife to become a professor.
In addition to her work as a midwife, De Jonge has been conducting research in her field since 2000. She was trained as a nurse in the Netherlands and left in her twenties to work in Great-Britain, where she became friends with an Australian midwife in training. She enthused De Jonge about the profession, and that's how she rolled into midwifery.
In an interview with Trouw De Jonge shares her views on midwifery and childbirth.