Frans de Wever
Encyclopedia
Frans Marie Joseph de Wever (29 January 1869, Nuth
- 9 September 1940, Heerlen
) was a Dutch
general practitioner
, municipal doctor, rail doctor, mining doctor, and hospital
founder
in 1897 (some sources say 1896) on the urge of mayor
and pharmacist
Charles de Hesselle (a colleague of de Wever’s father, who was a pharmacist in Nuth
).
He took over the practice of Karel Winckebach (one of the founders of cardiology
).
In the early years he made use of horse and carriage to serve his patients, but in November 1902 a car
was used (made by Cudell
from the nearby city of Aachen
).
in Maastricht
. De Wever felt a hospital was needed in Heerlen.
There were already a two hydrotherapy
centers, called Mariabad and St. Josephs Heilbronn. After being declined by the Heilbronn to start a hospital, de Wever approached monseigneur
Joseph Savelberg
, Roman-Catholic rector
and founder of the sister congregation that ran Mariabad.
Although Savelberg was at first reluctant, presumably because his congregation was founded under the condition that it would not far in the other congregations' works. But the idea of a hospital set up near the mines, with the possibilities of Protestant doctors and nurses, convinced Savelberg to co-found the hospital.
In September 1904 Savelberg blessed the hospital, built in the garden of Mariabad, near the corner of Akerstraat and Putgraaf. Presumably the hospital was named Maria Hilf Spital. There were two wards (one for men and one for women) with ten beds each, two rooms per ward, one operating room, and a kitchen.
Nuth
Nuth is a municipality and a village in the Dutch province of Limburg, situated in the southern Netherlands.The village Nuth has 5,548 inhabitants, and is with that the largest village of the municipality. The town hall of the municipality Nuth is also situated in the village Nuth...
- 9 September 1940, Heerlen
Heerlen
Heerlen is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg, , an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen...
) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
general practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
, municipal doctor, rail doctor, mining doctor, and hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
founder
Early years in Heerlen
After graduating as a medical doctor, de Wever settled in HeerlenHeerlen
Heerlen is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg, , an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen...
in 1897 (some sources say 1896) on the urge of mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
Charles de Hesselle (a colleague of de Wever’s father, who was a pharmacist in Nuth
Nuth
Nuth is a municipality and a village in the Dutch province of Limburg, situated in the southern Netherlands.The village Nuth has 5,548 inhabitants, and is with that the largest village of the municipality. The town hall of the municipality Nuth is also situated in the village Nuth...
).
He took over the practice of Karel Winckebach (one of the founders of cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
).
In the early years he made use of horse and carriage to serve his patients, but in November 1902 a car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
was used (made by Cudell
Cudell
The Cudell was a German car made from 1898 to 1908. It was made in Aachen until 1905, and thenceforth in Berlin.Max Cudell founded the company in 1898 to manufacture licensed De Dion-Bouton vehicles. The original 3-wheelers were succeeded by a 3.5hp voiturette. These were followed by more De...
from the nearby city of Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
).
A hospital
With mining operations expanding in Heerlen, too many patients were being wounded for de Wever to treat alone. These patients all had to be transported over poor roads to the Calvariënberg, a hospitalHospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
in Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
. De Wever felt a hospital was needed in Heerlen.
There were already a two hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy, involves the use of water for pain-relief and treating illness. The term hydrotherapy itself is synonymous with the term water cure as it was originally marketed by practitioners and promoters in the 19th century...
centers, called Mariabad and St. Josephs Heilbronn. After being declined by the Heilbronn to start a hospital, de Wever approached monseigneur
Monseigneur
Monseigneur is an honorific in the French language. It has occasional English use as well, as it may be a title before the name of a French prelate, a member of a royal family or other dignitary. Also it is sometimes used as a name for a Frenchman who has a position on the court.Monsignor is both...
Joseph Savelberg
Joseph Savelberg
Peter Joseph Savelberg was a Roman-Catholic priest and congregation founder ....
, Roman-Catholic rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
and founder of the sister congregation that ran Mariabad.
Although Savelberg was at first reluctant, presumably because his congregation was founded under the condition that it would not far in the other congregations' works. But the idea of a hospital set up near the mines, with the possibilities of Protestant doctors and nurses, convinced Savelberg to co-found the hospital.
In September 1904 Savelberg blessed the hospital, built in the garden of Mariabad, near the corner of Akerstraat and Putgraaf. Presumably the hospital was named Maria Hilf Spital. There were two wards (one for men and one for women) with ten beds each, two rooms per ward, one operating room, and a kitchen.