What’s in the doctor’s bag of Kirsten – A Dutchie and General Practitioner living in Germany

1. Let’s get straight to it—what’s in your VanVeer?

My VanVeer holds all the essentials of a General Practitioner: my stethoscope, blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, otoscope, reflex hammer, (way too many) pens, and supplies for wound care and injections. Thankfully, all the little bits and pieces are neatly tucked into a matching Zipper Pouch, otherwise, I’d constantly be looking for everything. Recently, I also got to test your beautiful new Ampoule Case, and it truly completes my set. And of course, I always carry plenty of nitrile gloves, just in case!

2. Tell us, how did the design of your VanVeer come about?

I received my VanVeer as a graduation gift from my boyfriend. Becasue I’m terrible at making decisions, I booked a Private Design Session with Vera. Seeing the colors side by side helped a lot (this was before the 3D-Design Tool existed!). Together, we came up with a beautiful and practical bag design. I still receive lots of compliments from my patients! 

3. What’s one VanVeer item you’d love to see next?

With the Ampoule Case in the collection, one of my must-haves has already become reality. But if I could add one more thing, a stylish laptop sleeve would be great!

4. Now, tell us a bit about yourself!

I’m Kirsten, 30 years old, and I live in Germany with my boyfriend Yannick, our daughter Nika, and our cat Pablo. I’ve been a General Practitioner since September 2024. In my free time, I love being creative—knitting, photography, crafting, and cooking. I also do CrossFit (though, to be honest, having a baby means that I have much less free time for that). I also enjoy getting out and about—taking my little one in the stroller or baby carrier, grabbing a coffee, going for a walk, or having a cozy lunch somewhere.

5. What’s it like being a General Practitioner and a Dutchie living in Germany?

I was educated in the Netherlands and still work there—the only reason I live in Germany is because my boyfriend is from here. Luckily, we live close to the border, so not much has changed for me. I can still pop into ´Albert Heijn´ (a Dutch supermarket) and grab a ´kroket´ (a Dutch snack) at the snack bar in my parents’ village, haha.

The Dutch healthcare system is quite different, especially when it comes to the role of the General Practitioner—it’s much more central. We see patients of all ages with all sorts of conditions. In Germany, General Practitioners still write sick notes for work (no idea where they find the time!), and people are referred to specialists much faster. For example, children go straight to a pediatrician instead of a General Practitioner when something’s wrong. General Practitioners here handle fewer procedures, whereas in the Netherlands, we have a broad scope that lets us work with both our minds and our hands.

Right now, I work as a locum in different General Practitioner practices, at out-of-hours clinics, and as a prison doctor. I love the flexibility and really enjoy the work. I definitely plan to continue working as a General Practitioner in the Netherlands.

6. If you could change one thing as a General Practitioner, what would it be?

Unfortunately, I often encounter the impact of misinformation that people get from platforms like social media in my work. This is especially the case when it comes to (hormonal) contraception, cholesterol and blood pressure medication, and childhood vaccinations. So many people claim to be experts, but they aren’t held accountable when their bad advice harms others.

If I advise a patient to do something, and it happens to turn out poorly, I have to justify my decision (as I should!). Anyone can file a complaint against me, but influencers with huge audiences can spread completely unscientific advice, and there are no consequences when their followers suffer because of it. That’s something I wish would change.

7. What’s one thing that instantly makes your day better?

An unexpected, meaningful conversation with a patient. Today, for example, I saw someone who had come to me before with such severe headaches that he didn’t see the point in living anymore. He wanted to discuss his treatment, and I braced myself, thinking he might ask about euthanasia. Instead, he said: “I just wanted to let you know how incredibly well I’ve been helped at the pain clinic. Now that the awful pain is gone, I actually feel excited about life again!” We ended up talking about life’s meaning and about some special things he had lived. Moments like that give me a fresh burst of energy for the rest of the day.

8. What future plans are still in your bag?

I only recently started working as a locum—I actually finished my GP training while on maternity leave, which still counted as part of my residency. Right now, I’m happy with the balance I’ve found. Juggling a busy job, a baby, and time for myself is already plenty!

In the long run, there are so many exciting directions I could take. I’d love to have my own practice someday and become a SCEN doctor (a physician who supports other doctors in euthanasia cases), but that requires at least five years of GP experience. One of the great things about being a GP is that you can tailor your work to your interests, whether that’s minor surgery, ultrasound, or lifestyle medicine—so I know I’ll never get bored!

9. What advice would you give to (future) General Practitioners?

One of my teachers once told me: “There’s so much music in this job, and if you learn how to play, you can create the most beautiful compositions with your patients.” We have such a special profession. We meet people from all walks of life—young, old, rich, poor, healthy, seriously ill, lifelong locals, recent refugees, and homeless individuals. We are there for them during some of life's most intense moments, gaining a glimpse into their world. That never stops being special.

Another piece of advice that stuck with me: “Full is full.” Our workdays have limits, and there’s always tomorrow.

Kirsten Vijgen is Dutchie, General Practitioner, and lives in Germany with her (German) boyfriend, their daughter, and their cat. When she’s not practicing medicine, she loves to express her creativity through knitting, photography, and other crafts. Follow her journey at @cuppykirsten.

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Would you like to design your own doctor’s bag, just like Kirsten? Read here how it works or click here to start designing with the 3D Design Tool!