A. C. Boudewijn Peters (1941–2026)

Boudewijn Peters, MD, PhD, a foundational figure in Dutch pediatric neurology and one of the second generation of specialists to shape the field in the Netherlands, passed away on January 30, 2026, at the age of 84. His career was defined by clinical excellence, institutional leadership, and a sustained commitment to advancing the scientific understanding of epilepsy in childhood. Dr. Peters completed his neurology training in Leiden, followed by a fellowship in pediatric neurology in Utrecht under Professor Kobus Willemse. In the mid-1970s, at what was then the Academic Hospital Leiden (now Leiden University Medical Center), he established one of the country's early departments of pediatric neurology. At a time when pediatric neurology was still emerging as a recognized subspecialty, he traveled throughout the Netherlands with a slide projector, presenting to primary care physicians and pediatricians to demonstrate the distinct diagnostic and therapeutic needs of children with neurological disorders. Through these efforts, he materially contributed to the consolidation of pediatric neurology as an autonomous discipline. Within Leiden, Dr. Peters built a close-knit clinical service centered on a 10-bed pediatric neurology unit. He was widely regarded as an exemplary clinician: measured, attentive, and deeply empathetic. He devoted generous time to children and their families, combining diagnostic rigor with humane presence. As an educator, he was equally distinguished. His lectures—delivered in a calm, deliberate voice—were enriched by carefully selected case material and nuanced clinical reflection. Many trainees credit him not only for imparting knowledge but also for modeling professional integrity and intellectual discipline. He granted junior colleagues significant autonomy while remaining consistently available for counsel, fostering both independence and loyalty. A major scientific milestone in his career was the initiation, in 1988, of a large prospective cohort study of childhood epilepsy in collaboration with Dr. Willem Frans Arts. Initially known as the South Holland Pediatric Epilepsy Study and later expanded as the Dutch Study of Epilepsy in Childhood, the project enrolled approximately 500 children and generated numerous influential international publications. The study's strength lay in its systematic, longitudinal design and its careful phenotyping—features that anticipated later standards in pediatric epilepsy research. Dr. Peters was particularly admired for his elegant writing style and his ability during manuscript preparation to interpret findings with clarity, balance, and contextual depth. Beyond his institutional and research contributions, Dr. Peters played a central organizational role in Dutch pediatric neurology. He served as secretary of the Dutch Society of Child Neurology from 1978 to 1981 and as its president from 1984 to 1990. During his presidency, he oversaw the presentation of the first Cornelia de Lange Medal to Dr. Jean Aicardi of Paris, reinforcing international ties and scholarly exchange. Colleagues recall his gift for collegial diplomacy and his instinct for bringing people together—qualities reflected as much in professional meetings as in the cultural and culinary gatherings he organized for staff and collaborators. In 1991, following his appointment as professor of pediatric neurology, Dr. Peters moved to University Medical Center Utrecht, where he served for more than a decade as head of the Department of Pediatric Neurology at the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital. There he continued to expand both the clinical service and the national epilepsy cohort collaboration. His Utrecht years consolidated his influence on a generation of Dutch pediatric neurologists and strengthened the academic infrastructure of the field. Although his professional life was central to his identity—he took evident intellectual pleasure in clinical reasoning and scientific inquiry—those close to him experienced the same qualities in more intimate settings. He was disciplined and exacting when coaching his sons' field hockey teams and inspired others “not to be too kind” to themselves when responsibility required resolve. Born during the war and raised without a father figure, he charted his own course to Leiden, to medicine, and ultimately to leadership in his field. He was a devoted husband and father of three children, who recall not only his dedication to his work but also his charm, warmth, and enduring presence. The Dutch pediatric neurology community has lost a charismatic clinician-scientist, a formative institutional leader, and a mentor whose influence will persist in departments he built, studies he initiated, and physicians he trained. His legacy endures in the structures he established and in the patients whose lives were improved by his care (Figures 1 and 2). Editor's note: Professor Boudewijn Peters' legacy is further cemented by the success of his son, the author of this obituary, who is an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician at Boston Children's Hospital, where he provides expert care for refractory epilepsy due to tuberous sclerosis complex and leads an innovative research program in epilepsy surgery and brain networks. Jurriaan M. Peters: writing – original draft, writing – review and editing. Oebo F. Brouwer: writing – original draft, writing – review and editing, supervision. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.