What is the research about?
A good start in life is essential for children's health, development, and future opportunities. Proverty and the associated financial stress undermine this start. How many children in the Netherlands are born into families with registered problematic debts, and what characterizes these families? To investigate this, we analyzed data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on children born between 2021 and 2023. The results help to identify which families are most at risk and where support is needed most.
‘We know that growing up in a family with problematic debt makes children vulnerable. Debt causes stress for parents, which hinders a healthy start and optimal development. With early identification and appropriate support, we can limit these negative effects and give children a better chance at a healthy future.’
Malon Van den Hof, youth health physician/epidemiologist, researcher
Duration
This study covers the period from 2021 to 2023. The work to highlight adverse circumstances early in life and influence policy is ongoing. In a follow-up project, we will investigate how a solid start relates to healthcare costs throughout the life course.
In collaboration with
This project was carried out in collaboration with Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and was set up in response to a local project on problematic debt among expectant parents in the municipality of Amsterdam.
Funding
The research was funded by the Sector Plans, prevention theme.
Approach
Analysis of data from Statistics Netherlands on children born between 2021 and 2023.
Publication
The results were published in the journal ESB on February 3, 2026 (in Dutch).
Publications
Want to know more?
Read more about this study on the Amsterdam UMC website (in Dutch):
Transplantation with germline stem cells leads to healthy offspring in mice | Amsterdam UMC
A lecture by Callista Mulder about this study can be viewed on YouTube:
What is the research about?
Callista Mulder, principal investigator:
“When a boy has to undergo chemotherapy for cancer or a blood disorder, there is a high risk of infertility. We offer adult men the option of freezing their sperm, but this is not possible for young boys. To preserve fertility and the option of biological parenthood later in life, a piece of testicular tissue can be frozen. This piece contains so-called sperm stem cells, the precursors of sperm cells. A transplant of these sperm stem cells could help infertile young men fulfill their wish to have children. But how do you determine whether this is safe for the health of these future children?
We simulated a clinical trial in mice. Testicular tissue from young mice was frozen, after which the sperm stem cells were isolated and cultured in the lab. These were then transplanted into infertile mice. The health of the 'children' and 'grandchildren' of these transplanted mice was monitored throughout their lives. We compared the health with that of mouse pups that had been conceived naturally.”
‘As far as I'm concerned, the safety of new fertility treatments is paramount. That's why we're investigating the impact of these treatments on the health of future generations. In our laboratory, we saw healthy offspring. That gives us confidence to take the next steps towards eventually introducing this transplantation into clinical practice.’
Callista Mulder, reproductive biologist and principal investigator
What can we do today for a healthier future?
The results of this study give us the confidence to take the step towards the first clinical trial in humans. This offers young men who have survived a serious illness and became infertile as a result of treatment the prospect of a safe chance to have children of their own in the future.
Duration
Since 2011, Amsterdam UMC has been offering testicular biopsies to children in consultation with their parents. The mouse study took place between 2012 and 2022. The research has been completed and published in Clinical and Translational Medicine and Clinical Epigenetics. The next steps to bring testicular stem cell transplantation to the clinic are currently being taken.
Conducted by and in collaboration with
Amsterdam UMC: Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine
Study team: Joana Serrano, Callista Mulder, Ans van Pelt
Funding
KiKa, ZonMw-program Translational Adult Stem Cell Research
More information
MoMentUM study: project page (ZonMw) (in Dutch)
Momentum - Psychiatry Amsterdam
‘Wanting children is not a yes-or-no question. It is a process that evolves with how you are doing, with your life, and with your recovery.’
Monique van den Eijnden, project lead and policy advisor for Perinatal Psychiatry at MIND, based on experiences shared in MoMentUM
What is the research about?
Birit Broekman, professor of Hospital Psychiatry at Amsterdam UMC:
“The MoMentUM study focused primarily on unintended pregnancies among women with psychiatric vulnerability in the Netherlands. At the same time, attention was paid to the broader concept of the desire for children and all the outcomes that can be associated with this, such as unwanted childlessness, desired childlessness, and unwanted pregnancy.
The results have been compiled in a dissertation and in a book containing patient testimonials, in collaboration with the MIND foundation.
We are now working on the next step: putting our findings into practice. We are doing this with the Use the MoMentUM implementation project. In this project, we offer training courses for mental health care providers to facilitate conversations about family planning. On our online project page, we share other relevant publications for patients, their relatives, and healthcare providers who may be struggling with the issue of desire for children and family planning in relation to psychological or psychiatric vulnerability.
A third project on this theme is Starting Strong Together. In this project, we have set up an Amsterdam Psychiatric Perinatal Care Pathway. We have expanded the existing POP outpatient clinics (Psychiatry, Obstetrics, and Pediatrics) with partnerships with Infant Mental Health specialists, with additional psychiatric services in the day treatment program for pregnant women at GGZ Arkin, and a group intervention for mothers and their newborns at Arkin and MOC 't Kabouterhuis. We have gained a better understanding of the patients who do and do not make use of these services. We evaluate the care provided through interviews with patients.
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Discussing desire for children and family planning explicitly is an essential part of good mental health care. Healthcare providers need to actively discuss this with their patients more often. Timely attention to this issue supports joint decision-making about treatment and guidance and can help prevent undesirable outcomes.
The POP clinic care and additional care provided through the Amsterdam Perinatal Psychiatric Care Pathway need to be made better known among referrers, such as general practitioners.
Duration
MoMentUM: 2021-2023, completed
Use the MoMentUM: until July 2026
Samen Sterk aan de Start: completed in October 2025
In collaboration with
MoMentUM: OLVG and MIND
Use the MoMentUM: OLVG, MIND, and Nu Niet Zwanger
Samen Sterk aan de Start: OLVG, GGZ Arkin, MIND, and MOC 't Kabouterhuis
Funding
The three studies were funded by ZonMw.
Approach
MoMentUM: mixed methods with quantitative analyses in a large database of patients with and without psychiatric vulnerability. Qualitative analyses using surveys and focus groups with patients and care providers and in-depth interviews with patients.
Use the MoMentUM: implementation project in which training has been developed for mental health care providers and a platform has been created for MoMentUM research outputs.
Starting Strong Together: mixed methods with quantitative and qualitative analyses of the care pathway.
Contactinformatie
Birit Broekman, Amsterdam UMC
send an email
Publications
What is the study about?
Berber Kapitein, pediatric intensivist:
“In this project, we are working with children with severe asthma and their families, who are living in circumstances that make them vulnerable. We are developing interventions to improve their living environment and, in turn, their health. We put these interventions into practice and evaluate their impact. From the outset, children, parents, and professionals conduct research together. In joint sessions, we identify factors that cause or exacerbate asthma, such as housing, stress, or limited access to care. Based on these insights, we develop solutions, such as improving housing, providing more support for families, or improving access to support. We test these ideas in practice and then see what works, for whom, and why. By listening carefully to the experiences of families, we ensure that the solutions meet their needs. In this way, we also strengthen trust in care providers and in policy.”
‘Dare to stray from the beaten path. That's where equal opportunities for health begin.’
Berber Kapitein, pediatric intensivist
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Dare to ask. Dare to act. Ask a child. See where and how they live. Ask about school, work, finances, and mold in the home. See the system in which a child grows up.
Duration
The clinic was launched in 2025. PATHS will start in June 2026 and will run for 48 months. The first stakeholder discussions have already taken place.
Collaboration
Pediatric Asthma: Tracing Health in socioeconomic and environmental Struggles (PATHS) is a collaboration with researchers Suzanne Terheggen-Lagro, Tahira Hussain, Susanne Vijverberg (Public Health, UMC Utrecht), Jantien van Berkel, and Carlijn Kamphuis (Social Sciences, Utrecht University), Milou Haggenburg (Municipality of Amsterdam), Fred Woudenberg, and Amina Ali (Public Health Service of Amsterdam).
Together with Suzanne Terheggen-Lagro, Tahira Hussain, and Cecilia Chan, we started the Equal Opportunities in Health Clinic within the pediatric pulmonology department without any funding. A social worker is always present during consultation hours, and we make home visits whenever possible. We work closely with Stichting Woon! and the Public Health Service, and tackle problems directly whenever possible.
Funding
ZonMw
Contact
Berber Kapitein, pediatric intensivist
send an email
More information
The results of this study were published in European Respiratory Society (open access):
What is the research about?
Yolande van der Linden, Director of HR at Amsterdam UMC:
“WeCare is an innovative approach to implement A Healthy Future for All, Amsterdam UMC's long-term strategy. This strategy recognizes that health does not start in hospital, but it starts in the environments in which people live in society, in the workplace, and at home.
Health starts at the very beginning of life. Parents play an important role in this. If parents feel well and are emotionally available, their children will benefit. With WeCare, we learn what measures employers can take to contribute to the well-being of expectant parents and parents with young children.”
‘Family-friendly working is important for employees and for a healthy future for all’
Karen Kruijthof, Vice Chair of the Executive Board, Amsterdam UMC
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Discuss within your team what everyone needs to achieve a good work-life balance and to be emotionally available at home, so that children get a good start in life.
Talk to each other in time and see what you can do for each other as a team. Work together to find a good balance and fair distribution of work.
Based on the results of WeCare, various types of interventions are currently being developed and implemented. The effect of these interventions on parents’ well-being and perceived work-life balance will then be measured.
Duration
2024-2027
In collaboration with
Bernard van Leer foundation, Firma Twist
Funding
Amsterdam UMC and Bernard van Leer foundation
Approach
The bottlenecks and needs experienced by (expectant) parents were identified through a questionnaire completed by all Amsterdam UMC employees and through interviews with healthcare workers and managers. Interventions are being tested to determine whether they have a positive effect on parents’ well-being, thereby contributing to the well-being and a good start for children.
Contact
More information
Read more about the background of the study in this flyer.
In this video , Karen Kruijthof (Vice Chair of the Executive Board of Amsterdam UMC) and Yolande van der Linden (Director of HR at Amsterdam UMC) explain what WeCare entails.
When work works for parents and families, everybody wins. Seven strategies to keep work and family in balance. In: Early Childhood Matters, January 2025.
Read more about WeCare and about the work of Future Generations Commissioner Tessa Roseboom in Early Childhood Matters, January 2026.
What is the research about?
Marjette Koot, researcher:
“We know that stress during the first 1,000 days can have major consequences later in life. We also know from research that social support—invisible care—can act as a protective buffer and help prevent some of the negative effects of stress.
Aid organizations for refugees often provide social support, for example to pregnant women and mothers with babies, but this important part of their work often remains 'invisible'. Unlike blankets or medicines, 'invisible' care is not easy to count or measure, and therefore usually goes unreported.
With this project, we aim to make invisible care visible and examine its impact on mothers and children. We are doing this through ethnographic fieldwork in Greece (Athens and Lesbos). This involves long-term observation of the work of local aid organizations focusing on the first 1,000 days. With additional in-depth interviews, we want to gain a better understanding of the assistance that is provided. In this way, we shed light on invisible care and its effects on future generations.”
‘We hope that our project will help to substantiate the importance of invisible care, especially given the current geopolitical situation, in which funding for these types of organizations is being cut dramatically.’
Marjette Koot, researcher
What can we do today for a healthier future?
After the first two weeks of fieldwork, we clearly established the importance and value of so-called invisible care that these organizations provide to pregnant women and young children. This care gives women guidance, stability, and self-confidence in the very uncertain existence of a refugee.
What makes these organizations strong is that their employees really get to know the women, and often follow up and visit them for years: it is therefore a matter of sustainable support. They also organize recreational activities and handle practical matters, such as a funeral or tribute for a stillborn child, and preparatory training for women who are about to give birth in hospital, helping them understand what to expect and enabling them to respond in Greek to possible medical interventions.
Duration
April 2025 - March 2027
In collaboration with
Amurtel in Athens and Because We Carry in Lesbos
Funding
UvA Midsize Grant - Healthy Future
Contact
Dr. Roanne van Voorst (Principal Investigator; Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam)
Mere information
The Effects of Invisible Support in Refugee Care for Intergenerational Health - Healthy Future
What is the research about?
Disposable plastic baby bottles are among the top five disposable products with the greatest climate impact in Dutch university medical centers. Together, these centers consume more than half a million bottles annually. The transition to reusable baby bottles is important for a more circular healthcare system. But making the switch is not that simple. First, a careful consideration had to be made: plastic or glass?
After having used bottles 100 times, the climate impact of glass and plastic reusable baby bottles is comparable, and both options are much more sustainable than disposable baby bottles. But does the choice of material affect the quality of nutrition? And what about exposure to microplastics and additives, such as plasticizers, when using plastic reusable baby bottles? This was investigated through a review of scientific literature.
‘With this project, we want to give all babies a healthy start by bringing sustainability and health together. With well-founded, independent knowledge, we can make responsible choices for today's healthcare and for the health of future generations.’
Remko van Eenennaam, sustainable care project lead, Center for Sustainable Healthcare, Amsterdam UMC
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Hospitals: switch from disposable to reusable glass baby bottles.
Healthcare professionals: discuss the relationship between sustainability and health with colleagues and parents, with a specific focus on the choice of glass baby bottles.
Parents: choose glass baby bottles over plastic ones.
Duration
June 2025 – December 2025
In collaboration with
Center for Sustainable Healthcare (Amsterdam UMC) and Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Funding
Seed funding for Environmental Sustainability Research (Center for Sustainable Healthcare, Amsterdam UMC)
Approach
The mixed methods approach consisted of:
a systematic investigation into the release of microplastics and additives when using plastic baby bottles, specifically the frequency, factors influencing release, and health risks.
expert discussions on 1) the risks and factors surrounding microplastics and additives and 2) the impact of material choice (glass or plastic) on the nutritional quality of baby milk.
More information
The results and recommendations are currently being summarized in two fact sheets: one for hospitals and one for parents.
What are the studies about?
We know that mental health problems during pregnancy can have a negative impact on a child development. With Promises and Stop or Go?, we studied the effects of different treatments for mental health problems in pregnancy on the health and development of children. With these studies, we mainly want to find out how we can prevent intergenerational transmission of mental health problems and what the effects of treatments are on the health of the next generation.
Promises focused on pregnant women with prenatal depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms or disorders. It was an interdisciplinary national project involving epidemiologists, clinical psychologists, midwives, and gynecologists (including Huib Burger and Claudi Bockting). We examined whether cognitive behavioral therapy started before birth is more effective for mother and child than usual care.
With Stop or Go?, we investigated the effect on mother and child of tapering antidepressant medication in combination with preventive cognitive therapy on the emotion regulation of pregnant women, compared to pregnant women who continue to use antidepressant medication (with Mijke Lambregtse-van den Berg, Huib Burger, and Claudi Bockting). Previous studies have shown that mood swings, the use of antidepressants, and depression during pregnancy can have a negative impact on the child development.
Both studies have been completed and a follow-up study involving the children has now been started for both. The results are currently under analysis.
‘The optimal time to prevent transmission to the next generation is before pregnancy. We must therefore treat mental disorders effectively and in a timely manner. That is why we must prioritize both the treatment of young people with mental disorders and prevention.’
Claudi Bockting, researcher
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Mental health disorders can be passed on to the next generation. The optimal phase to prevent transmission to the next generation is before conception. Young people should be prioritised for treatment of mental health conditions, because they are the parents of the future. In addition, we should focus on the mental well-being and resilience of young people.
By providing optimal support and treatment to pregnant women with mental health problems and translating the results of our studies into guidelines, we can contribute to healthier future generations.
Duration
Promises: follow-up measurements of 15-year-old children, 2026
Stop or Go: follow-up of 5-year-old children, 2026
In collaboration with
Promises: Amsterdam UMC and UMCG
Stop or Go: Amsterdam UMC and Erasmus MC
Funding
Both studies are funded by ZonMw.
Approach
Randomized intervention studies, ESM (Experience Sampling Method) research, and observational cohorts.
More information
The study on the effects of the interventions on mothers and young children has been published:
There is a great need for more controlled studies that focus on tapering medication with psychotherapeutic interventions during pregnancy, which also measure child outcomes. The results of the study have been published: (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.574357/full).
In addition, we found in a systematic review and meta-analysis that the effects of antidepressants during pregnancy on the baby are unclear and have not been investigated in randomized trials:
Publications
What is the research about?
If you become pregnant unexpectedly, it can evoke all kinds of emotions. By unexpected pregnancy, we mean a pregnancy that may feel unexpected, unplanned, unwanted, or unintended. Do unexpected pregnancies have consequences for mental health? This question was central to our research. We know from many previous studies that having an abortion does not increase the risk of mental health problems. In this study, we examined the experiences of people who carried an unexpected pregnancy to term or who had an abortion, as well as the factors that may reduce the risk of mental health problems. We also looked at the impact of unexpected pregnancy on children.
‘When people feel heard, understood, and supported, their resilience increases and they are better able to cope with potentially stressful situations, such as an unexpected pregnancy. Our recommendation is therefore: it starts with listening.’
Wieke Beumer, researcher
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Invest in strengthening social support, as this is a protective factor against mental health problems and thus also contributes to the healthy development of future generations.
'Start by listening' applies both to both mental health promotion and to understanding the broader experiences of people who experience an unexpected pregnancy. Experiences with unexpected pregnancy are multifaceted: people often experience a mixture of feelings. They cannot be pigeonholed into black and white categories. In our interviews, participants emphasized that during their decision-making process about what to do with their pregnancy (abortion or carrying to term), they greatly valued people who listened and had a non-judgmental, open attitude. The same applies to their experiences with contraception counseling.
Funding
The study was funded by ZonMw.
Approach
To gain a comprehensive picture of experiences with unexpected pregnancy in the Netherlands, we set up the BluePrInt study, in which we investigated the experiences of people (both women and men) who carried the pregnancy to term or had an abortion. The BluePrInt study is a mixed-method study that consisted of two questionnaires and in-depth interviews. 911 participants completed a questionnaire shortly after their abortion or around 14 weeks of pregnancy and did so again a year later. These questionnaires covered topics such as mental health (symptoms of depression/anxiety), the degree to which their pregnancy was unexpected (based on several questions), social support, and other socio-demographic factors. We then interviewed some of these participants about their experiences and feelings before, during, and after their unexpected pregnancy.
To gain insight into the impact of an unexpected pregnancy on long-term mental health, and to investigate this in a larger group of participants, we analyzed data from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study in a second sub-study. In this study, nearly 8,000 pregnant women indicated during their pregnancy to what extent their pregnancy was unintended. They then reported symptoms of depression and anxiety around three months, five years, and twelve years after their pregnancy. The ABCD study did not include data from people who had had an abortion, nor did it include data from men.
We also examined the impact of unexpected pregnancy on children's social-emotional development into adolescence, again based on data from the ABCD study (n = 7,784). Mothers reported on their children's internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors when they were six, twelve, and sixteen years old.
More information
Report 'Geen Roze Wolk' (No Pink Cloud): Unintended pregnancy and mental health (in Dutch)
Project website: www.onverwachtzwanger.nl (in Dutch)
Publications
Future Generations | March 2026
© Amsterdam UMC 2026
Publication
The results were published in the journal ESB on February 3, 2026 (in Dutch).
Duration
This study covers the period from 2021 to 2023. The work to highlight adverse circumstances early in life and influence policy is ongoing. In a follow-up project, we will investigate how a solid start relates to healthcare costs throughout the life course.
In collaboration with
This project was carried out in collaboration with Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and was set up in response to a local project on problematic debt among expectant parents in the municipality of Amsterdam.
Funding
The research was funded by the Sector Plans, prevention theme.
Approach
Analysis of data from Statistics Netherlands on children born between 2021 and 2023.
‘We know that growing up in a family with problematic debt makes children vulnerable. Debt causes stress for parents, which hinders a healthy start and optimal development. With early identification and appropriate support, we can limit these negative effects and give children a better chance at a healthy future.’
Malon Van den Hof, youth health physician/epidemiologist, researcher
What is the research about?
A good start in life is essential for children's health, development, and future opportunities. Proverty and the associated financial stress undermine this start. How many children in the Netherlands are born into families with registered problematic debts, and what characterizes these families? To investigate this, we analyzed data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on children born between 2021 and 2023. The results help to identify which families are most at risk and where support is needed most.
Future Generations | March 2026
© Amsterdam UMC 2026
What is the research about?
Callista Mulder, principal investigator:
“When a boy has to undergo chemotherapy for cancer or a blood disorder, there is a high risk of infertility. We offer adult men the option of freezing their sperm, but this is not possible for young boys. To preserve fertility and the option of biological parenthood later in life, a piece of testicular tissue can be frozen. This piece contains so-called sperm stem cells, the precursors of sperm cells. A transplant of these sperm stem cells could help infertile young men fulfill their wish to have children. But how do you determine whether this is safe for the health of these future children?
We simulated a clinical trial in mice. Testicular tissue from young mice was frozen, after which the sperm stem cells were isolated and cultured in the lab. These were then transplanted into infertile mice. The health of the 'children' and 'grandchildren' of these transplanted mice was monitored throughout their lives. We compared the health with that of mouse pups that had been conceived naturally.”
‘As far as I'm concerned, the safety of new fertility treatments is paramount. That's why we're investigating the impact of these treatments on the health of future generations. In our laboratory, we saw healthy offspring. That gives us confidence to take the next steps towards eventually introducing this transplantation into clinical practice.’
Callista Mulder, reproductive biologist and principal investigator
What can we do today for a healthier future?
The results of this study give us the confidence to take the step towards the first clinical trial in humans. This offers young men who have survived a serious illness and became infertile as a result of treatment the prospect of a safe chance to have children of their own in the future.
Duration
Since 2011, Amsterdam UMC has been offering testicular biopsies to children in consultation with their parents. The mouse study took place between 2012 and 2022. The research has been completed and published in Clinical and Translational Medicine and Clinical Epigenetics. The next steps to bring testicular stem cell transplantation to the clinic are currently being taken.
Conducted by and in collaboration with
Amsterdam UMC: Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine
Study team: Joana Serrano, Callista Mulder, Ans van Pelt
Funding
KiKa, ZonMw-program Translational Adult Stem Cell Research
Want to know more?
Read more about this study on the Amsterdam UMC website (in Dutch):
Transplantation with germline stem cells leads to healthy offspring in mice | Amsterdam UMC
A lecture by Callista Mulder about this study can be viewed on YouTube:
Publications
Future Generations | March 2026
© Amsterdam UMC 2026
Duration
MoMentUM: 2021-2023, completed
Use the MoMentUM: until July 2026
Samen Sterk aan de Start: completed in October 2025
In collaboration with
MoMentUM: OLVG and MIND
Use the MoMentUM: OLVG, MIND, and Nu Niet Zwanger
Samen Sterk aan de Start: OLVG, GGZ Arkin, MIND, and MOC 't Kabouterhuis
Funding
The three studies were funded by ZonMw.
Approach
MoMentUM: mixed methods with quantitative analyses in a large database of patients with and without psychiatric vulnerability. Qualitative analyses using surveys and focus groups with patients and care providers and in-depth interviews with patients.
Use the MoMentUM: implementation project in which training has been developed for mental health care providers and a platform has been created for MoMentUM research outputs.
Starting Strong Together: mixed methods with quantitative and qualitative analyses of the care pathway.
Contactinformatie
Birit Broekman, Amsterdam UMC
send an email
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Discussing desire for children and family planning explicitly is an essential part of good mental health care. Healthcare providers need to actively discuss this with their patients more often. Timely attention to this issue supports joint decision-making about treatment and guidance and can help prevent undesirable outcomes.
The POP clinic care and additional care provided through the Amsterdam Perinatal Psychiatric Care Pathway need to be made better known among referrers, such as general practitioners.
What is the research about?
Birit Broekman, professor of Hospital Psychiatry at Amsterdam UMC:
“The MoMentUM study focused primarily on unintended pregnancies among women with psychiatric vulnerability in the Netherlands. At the same time, attention was paid to the broader concept of the desire for children and all the outcomes that can be associated with this, such as unwanted childlessness, desired childlessness, and unwanted pregnancy.
The results have been compiled in a dissertation and in a book containing patient testimonials, in collaboration with the MIND foundation.
We are now working on the next step: putting our findings into practice. We are doing this with the Use the MoMentUM implementation project. In this project, we offer training courses for mental health care providers to facilitate conversations about family planning. On our online project page, we share other relevant publications for patients, their relatives, and healthcare providers who may be struggling with the issue of desire for children and family planning in relation to psychological or psychiatric vulnerability.
A third project on this theme is Starting Strong Together. In this project, we have set up an Amsterdam Psychiatric Perinatal Care Pathway. We have expanded the existing POP outpatient clinics (Psychiatry, Obstetrics, and Pediatrics) with partnerships with Infant Mental Health specialists, with additional psychiatric services in the day treatment program for pregnant women at GGZ Arkin, and a group intervention for mothers and their newborns at Arkin and MOC 't Kabouterhuis. We have gained a better understanding of the patients who do and do not make use of these services. We evaluate the care provided through interviews with patients.
‘Wanting children is not a yes-or-no question. It is a process that evolves with how you are doing, with your life, and with your recovery.’
Monique van den Eijnden, project lead and policy advisor for Perinatal Psychiatry at MIND, based on experiences shared in MoMentUM
More information
MoMentUM study: project page (ZonMw) (in Dutch)
Momentum - Psychiatry Amsterdam
Publications
Future Generations | March 2026
© Amsterdam UMC 2026
More information
The results of this study were published in European Respiratory Society (open access):
Duration
The clinic was launched in 2025. PATHS will start in June 2026 and will run for 48 months. The first stakeholder discussions have already taken place.
Collaboration
Pediatric Asthma: Tracing Health in socioeconomic and environmental Struggles (PATHS) is a collaboration with researchers Suzanne Terheggen-Lagro, Tahira Hussain, Susanne Vijverberg (Public Health, UMC Utrecht), Jantien van Berkel, and Carlijn Kamphuis (Social Sciences, Utrecht University), Milou Haggenburg (Municipality of Amsterdam), Fred Woudenberg, and Amina Ali (Public Health Service of Amsterdam).
Together with Suzanne Terheggen-Lagro, Tahira Hussain, and Cecilia Chan, we started the Equal Opportunities in Health Clinic within the pediatric pulmonology department without any funding. A social worker is always present during consultation hours, and we make home visits whenever possible. We work closely with Stichting Woon! and the Public Health Service, and tackle problems directly whenever possible.
Funding
ZonMw
Contact
Berber Kapitein, pediatric intensivist
send an email
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Dare to ask. Dare to act. Ask a child. See where and how they live. Ask about school, work, finances, and mold in the home. See the system in which a child grows up.
‘Dare to stray from the beaten path. That's where equal opportunities for health begin.’
Berber Kapitein, pediatric intensivist
What is the study about?
Berber Kapitein, pediatric intensivist:
“In this project, we are working with children with severe asthma and their families, who are living in circumstances that make them vulnerable. We are developing interventions to improve their living environment and, in turn, their health. We put these interventions into practice and evaluate their impact. From the outset, children, parents, and professionals conduct research together. In joint sessions, we identify factors that cause or exacerbate asthma, such as housing, stress, or limited access to care. Based on these insights, we develop solutions, such as improving housing, providing more support for families, or improving access to support. We test these ideas in practice and then see what works, for whom, and why. By listening carefully to the experiences of families, we ensure that the solutions meet their needs. In this way, we also strengthen trust in care providers and in policy.”
Future Generations | March 2026
© Amsterdam UMC 2026
More information
Read more about the background of the study in this flyer.
In this video , Karen Kruijthof (Vice Chair of the Executive Board of Amsterdam UMC) and Yolande van der Linden (Director of HR at Amsterdam UMC) explain what WeCare entails.
When work works for parents and families, everybody wins. Seven strategies to keep work and family in balance. In: Early Childhood Matters, January 2025.
Read more about WeCare and about the work of Future Generations Commissioner Tessa Roseboom in Early Childhood Matters, January 2026.
Duration
2024-2027
In collaboration with
Bernard van Leer foundation, Firma Twist
Funding
Amsterdam UMC and Bernard van Leer foundation
Approach
The bottlenecks and needs experienced by (expectant) parents were identified through a questionnaire completed by all Amsterdam UMC employees and through interviews with healthcare workers and managers. Interventions are being tested to determine whether they have a positive effect on parents’ well-being, thereby contributing to the well-being and a good start for children.
Contact
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Discuss within your team what everyone needs to achieve a good work-life balance and to be emotionally available at home, so that children get a good start in life.
Talk to each other in time and see what you can do for each other as a team. Work together to find a good balance and fair distribution of work.
Based on the results of WeCare, various types of interventions are currently being developed and implemented. The effect of these interventions on parents’ well-being and perceived work-life balance will then be measured.
‘Family-friendly working is important for employees and for a healthy future for all’
Karen Kruijthof, Vice Chair of the Executive Board, Amsterdam UMC
What is the research about?
Yolande van der Linden, Director of HR at Amsterdam UMC:
“WeCare is an innovative approach to implement A Healthy Future for All, Amsterdam UMC's long-term strategy. This strategy recognizes that health does not start in hospital, but it starts in the environments in which people live in society, in the workplace, and at home.
Health starts at the very beginning of life. Parents play an important role in this. If parents feel well and are emotionally available, their children will benefit. With WeCare, we learn what measures employers can take to contribute to the well-being of expectant parents and parents with young children.”
Future Generations | March 2026
© Amsterdam UMC 2026
Mere information
The Effects of Invisible Support in Refugee Care for Intergenerational Health - Healthy Future
Duration
April 2025 - March 2027
In collaboration with
Amurtel in Athens and Because We Carry in Lesbos
Funding
UvA Midsize Grant - Healthy Future
Contact
Dr. Roanne van Voorst (Principal Investigator; Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam)
What can we do today for a healthier future?
After the first two weeks of fieldwork, we clearly established the importance and value of so-called invisible care that these organizations provide to pregnant women and young children. This care gives women guidance, stability, and self-confidence in the very uncertain existence of a refugee.
What makes these organizations strong is that their employees really get to know the women, and often follow up and visit them for years: it is therefore a matter of sustainable support. They also organize recreational activities and handle practical matters, such as a funeral or tribute for a stillborn child, and preparatory training for women who are about to give birth in hospital, helping them understand what to expect and enabling them to respond in Greek to possible medical interventions.
‘We hope that our project will help to substantiate the importance of invisible care, especially given the current geopolitical situation, in which funding for these types of organizations is being cut dramatically.’
Marjette Koot, researcher
What is the research about?
Marjette Koot, researcher:
“We know that stress during the first 1,000 days can have major consequences later in life. We also know from research that social support—invisible care—can act as a protective buffer and help prevent some of the negative effects of stress.
Aid organizations for refugees often provide social support, for example to pregnant women and mothers with babies, but this important part of their work often remains 'invisible'. Unlike blankets or medicines, 'invisible' care is not easy to count or measure, and therefore usually goes unreported.
With this project, we aim to make invisible care visible and examine its impact on mothers and children. We are doing this through ethnographic fieldwork in Greece (Athens and Lesbos). This involves long-term observation of the work of local aid organizations focusing on the first 1,000 days. With additional in-depth interviews, we want to gain a better understanding of the assistance that is provided. In this way, we shed light on invisible care and its effects on future generations.”
Future Generations | March 2026
© Amsterdam UMC 2026
What is the research about?
Disposable plastic baby bottles are among the top five disposable products with the greatest climate impact in Dutch university medical centers. Together, these centers consume more than half a million bottles annually. The transition to reusable baby bottles is important for a more circular healthcare system. But making the switch is not that simple. First, a careful consideration had to be made: plastic or glass?
After having used bottles 100 times, the climate impact of glass and plastic reusable baby bottles is comparable, and both options are much more sustainable than disposable baby bottles. But does the choice of material affect the quality of nutrition? And what about exposure to microplastics and additives, such as plasticizers, when using plastic reusable baby bottles? This was investigated through a review of scientific literature.
‘With this project, we want to give all babies a healthy start by bringing sustainability and health together. With well-founded, independent knowledge, we can make responsible choices for today's healthcare and for the health of future generations.’
Remko van Eenennaam, sustainable care project lead, Center for Sustainable Healthcare, Amsterdam UMC
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Hospitals: switch from disposable to reusable glass baby bottles.
Healthcare professionals: discuss the relationship between sustainability and health with colleagues and parents, with a specific focus on the choice of glass baby bottles.
Parents: choose glass baby bottles over plastic ones.
Duration
June 2025 – December 2025
In collaboration with
Center for Sustainable Healthcare (Amsterdam UMC) and Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Funding
Seed funding for Environmental Sustainability Research (Center for Sustainable Healthcare, Amsterdam UMC)
Approach
The mixed methods approach consisted of:
a systematic investigation into the release of microplastics and additives when using plastic baby bottles, specifically the frequency, factors influencing release, and health risks.
expert discussions on 1) the risks and factors surrounding microplastics and additives and 2) the impact of material choice (glass or plastic) on the nutritional quality of baby milk.
More information
The results and recommendations are currently being summarized in two fact sheets: one for hospitals and one for parents.
Future Generations | March 2026
© Amsterdam UMC 2026
Publications
More information
The study on the effects of the interventions on mothers and young children has been published:
There is a great need for more controlled studies that focus on tapering medication with psychotherapeutic interventions during pregnancy, which also measure child outcomes. The results of the study have been published: (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.574357/full).
In addition, we found in a systematic review and meta-analysis that the effects of antidepressants during pregnancy on the baby are unclear and have not been investigated in randomized trials:
Duration
Promises: follow-up measurements of 15-year-old children, 2026
Stop or Go: follow-up of 5-year-old children, 2026
In collaboration with
Promises: Amsterdam UMC and UMCG
Stop or Go: Amsterdam UMC and Erasmus MC
Funding
Both studies are funded by ZonMw.
Approach
Randomized intervention studies, ESM (Experience Sampling Method) research, and observational cohorts.
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Mental health disorders can be passed on to the next generation. The optimal phase to prevent transmission to the next generation is before conception. Young people should be prioritised for treatment of mental health conditions, because they are the parents of the future. In addition, we should focus on the mental well-being and resilience of young people.
By providing optimal support and treatment to pregnant women with mental health problems and translating the results of our studies into guidelines, we can contribute to healthier future generations.
‘The optimal time to prevent transmission to the next generation is before pregnancy. We must therefore treat mental disorders effectively and in a timely manner. That is why we must prioritize both the treatment of young people with mental disorders and prevention.’
Claudi Bockting, researcher
What are the studies about?
We know that mental health problems during pregnancy can have a negative impact on a child development. With Promises and Stop or Go?, we studied the effects of different treatments for mental health problems in pregnancy on the health and development of children. With these studies, we mainly want to find out how we can prevent intergenerational transmission of mental health problems and what the effects of treatments are on the health of the next generation.
Promises focused on pregnant women with prenatal depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms or disorders. It was an interdisciplinary national project involving epidemiologists, clinical psychologists, midwives, and gynecologists (including Huib Burger and Claudi Bockting). We examined whether cognitive behavioral therapy started before birth is more effective for mother and child than usual care.
With Stop or Go?, we investigated the effect on mother and child of tapering antidepressant medication in combination with preventive cognitive therapy on the emotion regulation of pregnant women, compared to pregnant women who continue to use antidepressant medication (with Mijke Lambregtse-van den Berg, Huib Burger, and Claudi Bockting). Previous studies have shown that mood swings, the use of antidepressants, and depression during pregnancy can have a negative impact on the child development.
Both studies have been completed and a follow-up study involving the children has now been started for both. The results are currently under analysis.
Future Generations | March 2026
© Amsterdam UMC 2026
Funding
The study was funded by ZonMw.
Aanpak
Om een uitgebreid beeld te krijgen van ervaringen met onverwachte zwangerschap in Nederland hebben we de BluePrInt studie opgezet, waarin we ervaringen van mensen (zowel vrouwen als mannen) onderzochten die de zwangerschap uitdroegen of een abortus hadden. De BluePrInt studie is een mixed-method studie die bestond uit twee vragenlijsten en verdiepende interviews. 911 Deelnemers vulden kort na hun abortus of rond 14 weken zwangerschap een vragenlijst in en deden dit opnieuw een jaar later. Deze vragenlijsten gingen onder andere over mentale gezondheid (symptomen van depressie/angst), hoe onverwachte hun zwangerschap was (gebaseerd op meerdere vragen), sociale steun en andere socio-demografische factoren. Vervolgens hebben we ook een deel van deze deelnemers geïnterviewd over hun ervaringen en gevoelens voor, tijdens en na hun onverwachte zwangerschap.
Om een beeld te krijgen van de impact van een onverwachte zwangerschap op mentale gezondheid op langere termijn, en om dit te onderzoeken in een grotere groep deelnemers, analyseerden we in een tweede deelonderzoek gegevens uit de Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD)-studie. In deze studie gaven bijna 8.000 zwangeren tijdens hun zwangerschap aan in hoeverre hun zwangerschap onbedoeld was. Vervolgens rapporteerden zij depressie- en angstsymptomen rond drie maanden, vijf jaar en twaalf jaar na hun zwangerschap. In de ABCD studie zaten geen gegevens van mensen die een abortus hadden, en geen gegevens van mannen.
We onderzochten ook de impact van onverwachte zwangerschap op de sociaal-emotionele ontwikkeling van kinderen tot in de adolescentie, opnieuw op basis van gegevens uit de ABCD-studie (n = 7.784). Moeders rapporteerden over het internaliserende en externaliserende probleemgedrag van hun kinderen toen deze zes, twaalf en zestien jaar oud waren.
What can we do today for a healthier future?
Invest in strengthening social support, as this is a protective factor against mental health problems and thus also contributes to the healthy development of future generations.
'Start by listening' applies both to both mental health promotion and to understanding the broader experiences of people who experience an unexpected pregnancy. Experiences with unexpected pregnancy are multifaceted: people often experience a mixture of feelings. They cannot be pigeonholed into black and white categories. In our interviews, participants emphasized that during their decision-making process about what to do with their pregnancy (abortion or carrying to term), they greatly valued people who listened and had a non-judgmental, open attitude. The same applies to their experiences with contraception counseling.
‘When people feel heard, understood, and supported, their resilience increases and they are better able to cope with potentially stressful situations, such as an unexpected pregnancy. Our recommendation is therefore: it starts with listening.’
Wieke Beumer, researcher
What is the research about?
If you become pregnant unexpectedly, it can evoke all kinds of emotions. By unexpected pregnancy, we mean a pregnancy that may feel unexpected, unplanned, unwanted, or unintended. Do unexpected pregnancies have consequences for mental health? This question was central to our research. We know from many previous studies that having an abortion does not increase the risk of mental health problems. In this study, we examined the experiences of people who carried an unexpected pregnancy to term or who had an abortion, as well as the factors that may reduce the risk of mental health problems. We also looked at the impact of unexpected pregnancy on children.
More information
Report 'Geen Roze Wolk' (No Pink Cloud): Unintended pregnancy and mental health (in Dutch)
Project website: www.onverwachtzwanger.nl (in Dutch)
Publications