The practice
We are a practice in the centre of Amsterdam and we provide midwifery care for women living in the centre and southside of Amsterdam, tailored to their individual needs. We are experienced in home or hospital birth, in bed, on a stool or a water birth. Also, during birth, palliative treatment is possible.

Within the limits of what is medically possible, we would like to give you every opportunity to make your  pregnancy, delivery and confinement a happy and special experience.

As a practice we adhere to the ‘evidence-based’ principle. This means that we work according to the most recent scientific insights. That is why all midwives in our practice are members of the professional association KNOV (Royal Netherlands Association of Midwives) in order that we may be informed of the latest changes and guidelines. All four of us are also registered in the Quality Register. This Quality Register guarantees the quality of midwives by making a minumum of expertise enhancing activities compulsory, like refresher courses, competence training and discussions on methods between colleagues.

As a practice we also develop protocols to provide uniform procedures. For instance. we have recently written a protocol voor breast-feeding.

Cooperation with other care-givers is also an important issue for us. That is why we work closely with general practitioners, maternity agencies, hospitals, centers for breast-feeding and colleagues from other midwifery practices in Amsterdam.

The people
Emely Achterberg, born in 1973. I have been practicing as a midwife since 2008 when I started at the Witsenkade practice right out of school. During my studies I had my first born (a boy) who is now four years old. We had our second child (also a boy) in 2009. Prior to studying to become a midwife, I worked in the cultural sector. I am very glad to be able to fulfil a lifelong dream of becoming a midwife.

Lieke Jansen. I have always been fascinated by the phenomenon of delivery. After having a one-day internship with a midwife while I was in high school, I was certain this is what I wanted to become! I was trained as a midwife in Maastricht, a wonderful city where I had a great time. During that time I also took a years classes in Cultural Sciences. I have been working in Amsterdam for about three years now. In 2009 I started a Master's in Midwifery at the University of Amsterdam. Besides that, I am also working for the www.knov.nl/voor-anderen/vereniging/internationaal/twinning-project-sierra-leone/ project, initiated by the Royal Dutch Midwifes Organisation, to improve midwifery care in Sierra Leone.

Tineke Maass, born at home in 1977. I have been working as a midwife for ten years now. Despite dreaming of becoming a midwife since childhood, I have been excluded by lottery from starting my studies for a number of years, during which I worked as a social worker. Directly after finishing my studies, I have worked for various practices in Amsterdam, Meppel and Hoorn, after which I joined the Nicolaas Witsenkade practice. I have a 2 year old son Pelle and I expect my second child this summer.

Lotte Ouwehand, born in 1981 and working as a midwife since 2003. Prior to starting at the Witsenkade in 2005, I worked in Ghana and Amersfoort, and at various practices in Amsterdam. Once every month for the past five years now, I have been organising an introductory evening for pregnant women and their partners, focussing on the delivery and the next few days afterwards. I am also part of the 'Amsterdam Midwives Mediateam' - we work to provide pregnant women with clear and complete information on both pregnancy and preconception. This includes creating the website www.kinderwensinamsterdam.nl and the 'Groeiboekjes' which all pregnant women in Amsterdam and parts of The Netherlands receive from their midwife for free.

Students
For a few weeks every year we have a student as a trainee in our practice. Under our supervision she/he will attend to you during consultations, childbirth and confinement.
If you have any reservations about this, please let us know.
For information about the Academy for midwifery in Amsterdam, please go to the website www.vroedvrouwenopleiding.nl.