[Female health care workers in the northern Netherlands]

Women have been members of the surgical guilds since as early as the 14th century. Decrees dating from the 16th-18th centuries demonstrate that a number of women made a living through surgical practice at that time. From the Middle Ages through to the 18th century, women played their role in medical practice, and were also involved in surgery. Apart from the common problems of the profession, these female practitioners also encountered difficulties related to their gender.