In Memoriam Nanne de Vries

Nanne was born on July 4, 1956, in Friesland, a fact he frequently referenced throughout his later life. After studying psychology in Groningen, he earned his PhD (cum laude) there in 1988. His dissertation focused on partner choice in task situations requiring multiple competencies. From 1989 to 2000, he worked at the University of Amsterdam, broadening his research and teaching activities in social psychology. Health behaviour was already becoming an increasingly important focus of his work. Starting in 2000, he served as a professor and head of the Department of Health Promotion (then "GVO") at Maastricht University. Beyond his academic activities, Nanne was also active in administrative roles. From 2012 to 2021, he served as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences.

In the final year before reaching his retirement age, Nanne returned to the Department of Health Promotion. Sadly, he also received the devastating diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer during this time—a shock to all who knew him. The past two years largely revolved around this illness, yet Nanne remained admirably optimistic. Becoming a grandfather to Nova Luce during this period brought him immense pride. He stayed passionately involved in the content of his field and the workings of the department until the very end.

Nanne had a sharp vision for health promotion and healthcare more broadly. In his inaugural lecture on November 9, 2000 (“The Heart, the Backbone, and the Brain”), he emphasised the importance of various perspectives on health behavior. Nanne not only outlined these ideas but also acted upon them. Over his career, he gained extensive experience and expertise, contributing significantly to shaping recent developments in health promotion and beyond. In his farewell lecture on November 10, 2023 (“Just Up to Here”), he reflected on many of these developments. These included the shift from asking why people engage in unhealthy behaviors to how interventions can be designed—often focusing not solely on the individual; the health disparities within the Netherlands and their connections to other policy areas such as poverty and safety; and the challenges of implementing interventions and adapting them to different contexts. His work culminated in a strong plea for a systems approach to health promotion alongside the traditional focus on disease prevention.

At the end of his farewell lecture, he was showered with accolades: the highest honor of Maastricht University, the Tans Medal; the MUMC+ Award; and the CAPHRI Medal. Beyond these awards, the great interest and presence of so many attendees were of immense value to Nanne. We are grateful that he was able to fully enjoy that day.

We remember Nanne as a very aimable person, deeply committed both to the substance of his work and to the people who carried it out. For Nanne, these two were inseparable. His loss leaves a significant void among us, but we will strive to carry forward his vision and dedication. Our thoughts are with his wife, Carolien; his children, Jorien, Sjoerd, Siebe; his grandchild, Nova Luce; and all other family members and loved ones.

Nanne, we will miss you deeply. Rest in peace.

Rik Crutzen, Chair of Department of Health Promotion