VU University Medical Center

VU University Medical Center Amsterdam
Stichting VU-VUmc
Location in The Netherlands
Geography
Location	De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Coordinates	52°20′04″N 4°51′36″E / 52.33444°N 4.86000°E / 52.33444; 4.86000
Organisation
Funding	Government hospital
Hospital type	Teaching
Affiliated university	VU University Amsterdam
Patron	None
Services
Emergency department	Yes
Helipad	Yes
Beds	733
History
Founded	1964 (as the Academic Hospital of the Vrije Universiteit)
Links
Website	http://www.vumc.com/ English
Lists	Hospitals in The Netherlands

VU University Medical Center Amsterdam (Dutch: VU Medisch Centrum or VUmc) is the university hospital affiliated with the VU University Amsterdam. It is rated as one of the best academic medical centers in the country in terms of patient care and research. It is located next to Amsterdam's A10 ringway in the southwestern part of the city, next to the campus of the VU University and close to Schiphol airport.

On 30 October 2015, researchers at the VUmc Cancer Center Amsterdam reported developing a blood test that, from a single drop of blood, can diagnose cancer with a probability of 97%, and about 6-8% probability of a false diagnosis, in healthy patients. Also since October 2015 the VUmc got the first Mridian MRI scanner in Europe, this is the most advanced scanner for diagnosing tumors.

VU University Medical Center Amsterdam was opened in 1964 as the Academic Hospital of the Vrije Universiteit. This was made possible by the Vrouwen VU-hulp (English: Women VU help) charity, which was started in 1932 and aimed to support the Vrije Universiteit. Money was collected in the now iconic green tins with the likeness of Abraham Kuyper. These tins were distributed to families of the Dutch Reformed Church, specifically to the housewives of those families. After the end of the Second World War the charity's goal became to raise money to start a medical school. It took about 7 years before sufficient funds were raised, with the government footing 85 percent of the bill. Because of this, the idea that VUmc was funded by the 'kleine luyden' (English: little people) still exists today.

VU University Medical Center Amsterdam was created in 2001 by the merger of the Academic Hospital of VU University with the medical school of VU University Amsterdam (VU), nowadays called VUmc School of Medical Sciences. In June 2013 Wouter Bos was appointed as chairman of the board of directors of VU University Medical Center.