On Thursday, December 11, 2025, Aartjan Beekman will say farewell as Professor of Psychiatry. His long career at the Valeriuskliniek and VUmc/Amsterdam UMC has left a significant mark on (academic) psychiatry in Amsterdam. For several years, he served as the program leader of APH Mental Health (MH) research program and has continued to be an essential member of APH MH senior program council to this day. His contributions to academic psychiatry and APH have been a great value. Tomorrow, he will deliver his farewell lecture, entitled: “Proactive psychiatry: On freedom, wonder, and change.”
Home in Amsterdam
More than 40 years ago, Beekman began his medical studies at the VU Amsterdam, a choice that was not an obvious one. His childhood in South Africa had sparked his interest in politics and history, but on the advice of his father, he decided to pursue medicine. His career started in 1985 as a resident at the Valeriuskliniek. After completing his training, he received such a good offer from Willem van Tilburg that he couldn’t refuse: a dual appointment, working in the acute psychiatry department in the mornings and conducting research in the afternoons.
Epidemiology
In 1991, Beekman started his PhD research at LASA: Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Beekman found such a large epidemiological study extremely interesting, but he admits, “I really knew nothing about epidemiology, but I was very enthusiastic.” Under the guidance of Willem van Tilburg and Dorly Deeg, he quickly found his way in the field of epidemiology, which led to his PhD (cum laude) in 1996.
Impressive career
After several successful years in clinical practice, research, and as head of the residency programme at GGZ inGeest/Buitenamstel and VUmc, Beekman was appointed professor. From 2007 to 2024, Beekman was the head of the Department of Psychiatry at VUmc. “What stands out most to me? The staff. It is so important to build a strong team together,” he reflects.
Proactive psychiatry
In his farewell lecture, ‘proactive psychiatry’ takes center stage. “We need to make sure we look proactively at the development of illness. At the group level, we know a great deal, but at the individual level, it is much more complicated,” says Aartjan Beekman. Just like in oncology, psychiatry requires an active approach: how does a disorder progress, what is the impact for the patient, and how can we predict and prevent illness? Epidemiological research is crucial in this regard; it provides valuable data for prevention and policy.
Freedom, wonder, and change
Proactive psychiatry is accompanied by three core values for Beekman: freedom, wonder, and change. “The individual differences among patients in psychiatry are unpredictable and erratic. That is precisely why these three values are so important to hold on to,” he says. Freedom is about liberating patients from their mood disorders. Wonder is about the patient’s recovery; Beekman notes, “I am still often amazed at how patients recover, it remains remarkable.” Change refers to the course of the illness and the journey toward recovery.
The future of the craft
Beekman describes psychiatry as craftmanship: the connection between knowledge and personal contact. “Contact with the individual must take place in the ‘shared space,’ where a personal approach and autonomy are central,” he explains.
Regarding the future, he says: “The artisanal side of our work will always remain important. Respect the general principles of our craft; that will not change with artificial intelligence or other technologies. Hold on to that shared space, that is the most important thing.” After a remarkable career in psychiatry, Beekman remains passionate about his profession: “You need a sense of wonder to practice this craft for forty years. And you have to love it.”
Farewell Lecture
Aartjan Beekman’s farewell lecture will take place on Thursday, December 11, at 15:45 in the Aula of the main building of the VU, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam. The lecture is open to everyone and also available online.