The first weekend of the year marked the annual meeting of the Dutch Anatomical Society (NAV), held at Congress Centre De Werelt in Lunteren. This event, now in its 186th year, is a key gathering for the anatomical community in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Our team made several notable contributions to the program. Former PhD student Matthijs Fockens delivered the Bolk lecture, while Puck Mulder, Sophie Visser, Anna Ouwerkerk, and Wenjing Gou presented posters on a variety of topics. On Saturday morning, a presentation on the embryonic development of the ear and vestibular system by Bernadette de Bakker added to the scientific discussions.

During the general assembly, the society celebrated two prominent figures in the field. Cisca Griffioen, former head of anatomy at AMC, was honored with honorary membership following a tribute by Roelof-Jan Oostra. Additionally, Katharina D’Herde, Professor of Anatomy at Ghent University, received honorary membership in recognition of her important and sustained contributions to anatomy, presented by Wouter Willaert.

This year also marked a significant transition, as Bernadette stepped down as NAV board member after two terms spanning six years.

The meeting also provided a valuable opportunity to connect with sponsors such as Elsevier Health Education, Enatom, and Primal Pictures. Enatom announced exciting collaborative projects with our team for the upcoming year, and Primal Pictures shared the inclusion of the 3D Embryo Atlas in their portfolio: 3D Real-time Embryology.

The event concluded on a celebratory note with the awarding of the Bolk Medal to Matthijs Fockens for his outstanding presentation on Anomalies of the larynx and trachea.

The meeting was widely regarded as a resounding success, providing inspiration and many memorable moments. Looking forward to next year’s meeting!