Midwifery academies

All midwifery programmes in the Netherlands prepare you for the midwife profession. The four academies often cooperate and consult with each other as well as with the Royal Dutch Organisation of Midwives (KNOV).

The curricula of these programmes are based on the professional midwifery profile (KNOV, 2005), which sets out primary midwives' roles and core qualities.

The practical tasks and actions of a midwife are central to the programmes from their outset. You learn within your chosen institute and gain practical experience externally. In doing so, you become more skilled and responsible in your actions. Approximately half of the study time consists in practical internships; the other half focuses on the scientific underpinning of medical actions (evidence-based medicine).

After completing your studies you will be an independent medical professional who guides and cares for women before, during and after childbirth. You can sign on with the Dutch Individual Healthcare Professions Act (BIG) register as proof that you satisfy the legal professional criteria for undertaking medical midwifery.

On 1 September 2008 responsibility for midwifery education in the Netherlands was transferred from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and is thus governed by the Higher Education and Scientific Research Act (WHW) and affiliated with a higher education institute. This has further strengthened cooperation with university centres and other higher education institutes.