The Foundation was instituted in 1986 on the initiative of H.R.H. Prince Claus of The Netherlands and Professor Dr. W.J.F. Beks, neurosurgeon in Groningen. Since then the Dutch Foundation has organized postgraduate medical courses at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta and at the Airlangga University in Surabaya in a continuous collaboration with the staff of the medical faculties of both universities.
The main purpose of the Foundation is to support health care in Indonesia by sharing medical expertise in fields indicated by Indonesian physicians. This is done by postgraduate medical courses and symposia in which Dutch and Indonesians actively participate. The courses are given by Dutch medical specialists, who generously contribute their time and expertise.