The Florence Nightingale Institute is the expertise centre for the history of nursing. The name Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) was chosen as a tribute to the visionary founder of nursing. It was she who formulated the basic principles of nursing and care, and set them down in her booklet ‘Notes on Nursing’, which has lost none of his topicality today.
 

What we stand for


The Florence Nightingale Institute researches, collects, and transmits knowledge about the history of the care and nursing professions. Our methods include offering educational programmes, compiling museum exhibitions, managing a documentation centre, and conducting historical research.

In brief, the Florence Nightingale Institute pursues the following goals:
to ensure that there are enough highly motivated people at the bedsides of those who need them, now and in the future;
  • to contribute to nurses’ ongoing professionalization, and increasing their professional pride, by showing them the tradition to which they belong;
  • informing secondary-school students who have yet to choose a career about the different careers that exist in the nursing and care sectors;
  • promoting historical research by collecting, expanding and arranging data about the nursing and care professions;
  • to arrange for the conservation, management, documentation and exhibition of the nursing cultural heritage.

On show in the museum


The museum is located on the premises of the Florence Nightingale Institute. The following interactive exhibitions can be seen there: 

Speedy Sisters. Home care past and present
This exhibition shows that home care has developed along unique lines in the Netherlands since 1900, from the first home-nursing associations down to today’s large-scale care conglomerations. Bets (from 1950) and Sanne (active today) show what has changed over the years. The chief highlight of this presentation is Sister Stieltje’s doll (from 1898) which you really mustn’t miss.

Sisters in spotless white uniforms
On the basis of five themes, you will be taken on ‘ward rounds’ through 150 years of nursing history, from vocation to profession. Just imagine what it felt like to be ill in 1850, without any expert nurse to help you. While you’re here, be sure not to miss the original signature of Florence Nightingale, which she gave the Dutch nurses in 1895!

Academic nursing in the 21st century
Are there special demands attached to nursing in an academic teaching hospital in comparison to an ‘ordinary ‘hospital? Not necessarily! Of course, research, patient care, and science are typical features of an academic setting. While you’re visiting this exhibition, look at what that role means for nurses. Don’t forget to take a good look at the original iron lung, a scary-looking instrument that saved many lives!
 

Things you need to know before your visit

 
  • The museum is open to visitors without the need to make an appointment on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1.30 to 4.30 pm.
  • Groups of 10 or more people can visit on any day from Monday to Friday after first making an appointment.
  • Schools, conferences, group outings and arrangements only by appointment.
  • Admission: adults € 5; for groups of 20 or more, € 4.50 pp.
  • Children under 4 years of age: free.
  • If you are visiting the museum, the museum café is an ideal place to rest and relax with a cup of coffee and a biscuit or a piece of cake.
  • If you want to eat lunch, or need some other catering service, please let us know! Anything is possible in this connection provided it is requested and arranged in advance.

How to get there


By train: Zetten-Andelst station is on the railway line between Tiel and Arnhem. The museum is about 10 minutes’ walk from the station. The Florence Nightingale Institute is signposted. Take the service road to the left of the station and walk along the cycle path to the White House.
 
By car: Zetten is just off the A15 (Rotterdam-Nijmegen), exit 37. Take the turning to Zetten, cross the railway line, then 200 yards further on, to your left, you will reach the centre of Zetten. Follow the signpost to the Florence Nightingale Institute. 500 yards down the road, on the right, you will see the Florence Nightingale Institute, with its large car park (free of charge).
 

Specially for visitors to the European Nursing Congress

 
Experience 150 years of Dutch nursing in the interactive museum of the Florence Nightingale Institute (www.fni.nl). Your visit will explore the question of what connects nurses worldwide. We will bring your stories and our own together in an interactive workshop. Don’t forget to pack your favourite picture in uniform and your own pin!


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