Investing in a future without childhood cancer together
Every year, around 600 children in the Netherlands are diagnosed with cancer. Sadly, an average of 2 to 3 children die from this disease each week. When a child is seriously ill from cancer, only one thing matters: cure. Many types of childhood cancer are extremely rare, sometimes occurring only 25 times per year. Because many forms of childhood cancer are rare, it’s essential to invest in research and innovation for better treatments.
Until 2018, pediatric oncology care in the Netherlands was spread across seven different hospitals. Rob Pieters, a pediatric oncologist and one of the initiators of the Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology, asked himself a simple question: “If your child has cancer, where would you take them?” The answer was clear: “To the best hospital.” This idea led to the opening of the Princess Máxima Center in Utrecht, one national research hospital where care and research come together under one roof.
Since then, all children with cancer in the Netherlands are treated at the Princess Máxima Center where doctors, researchers and healthcare professionals work together every day on one shared mission: to cure every child with cancer, with optimal quality of life.
Accelerating the mission
The Princess Máxima Center Foundation plays a crucial role in accelerating this mission. The Foundation funds essential projects that are not covered by health insurers and/or the government. While diagnosis and standard treatment are reimbursed, innovative treatments, cutting-edge research, and additional facilities for children and families, depend entirely on donations.
Rabobank as partner
Rabobank has actively supported the idea behind the Princess Máxima Center from the very beginning. In 2014, together with BNG Bank, we helped finance the center. Now we’re taking it a step further. As a strategic partner of the Princess Máxima Center Foundation, Rabobank invests in accelerating the mission of the Princess Máxima Center.
The visions of the center and Rabobank are fully aligned: improving the quality of healthcare by centralizing specialized care in so-called centers of excellence.
Rabobank is supporting the Princess Máxima Center over the next three years, enabling the construction of their new 5,000 m² innovation wing. In 2025, the bank donated 25 million euros. An additional 35 million euros has been made available for the following two years.
This new wing will create additional space for the Princess Máxima Center to fulfil its needs for cutting-edge research, innovation in healthcare, and collaboration programs. Aiming to accelerate their mission and speed up the development of better treatments for children with cancer.
A center for children and parents
The Princess Máxima Center is designed differently from ‘regular’ hospitals. Parents and children were actively involved in the design from the beginning and expressed their wishes and needs. This is clearly visible in features such as an adjacent parent room for every child’s room and a balcony with access to fresh air. The way of working is also unique: care is centered around the child, allowing children to continue to develop despite their illness. This is called development-oriented care, where the interests of the child and family are always central. Everything is designed to reduce stress and allow normal life to continue as much as possible.
The result
The Princess Máxima Center is Europe’s largest pediatric oncology center and a global leader in patient care and research. Thanks to partners like Rabobank, the center can maintain this position and further strengthen its innovative capacity.
The Princess Máxima Center shows what is possible when parties work together towards one important goal: to cure every child with cancer, with optimal quality of life.