Our history
WaterAid Netherlands builds on the work of Simavi, founded in 1925 by Hubertus and Louise Leonore Bervoets.
They had worked for years as missionary doctor and nurse in the then Dutch East Indies. Their goal was to raise money to provide medical care and train local healthcare providers.
In the early years the emphasis was on medical support and health education. It gradually became clear that lasting health improvement is only possible if people have access to clean drinking water and good sanitary facilities. As a result, water took on an increasingly central place in the work.
Over the years, the organisation has developed in line with changing insights and global challenges. The focus shifted from direct aid to sustainable, structural solutions, always in collaboration with local partners. Women and girls are central to this, because they are often most affected by the lack of water and sanitation.
That history still forms the basis of the work of WaterAid Netherlands today.
