| 1963-1971 | Study medicine, University Utrecht, the Netherlands. |
| 1971-1976 | Specialized in cardiology, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis Utrecht, the Netherlands. |
| 1976 | Completed Traineeship Echocardiography, Brompton Hospital, London, UK. |
| 1977-2003 | Cardiologist in Rijnstate Hospital, a 800-beds teaching hospital at Arnhem, the Netherlands. |
| 1986 | Began his study on near-death experiences. |
| 1988 | Co-founder Merkawah Foundation, IANDS The Netherlands. |
| 2001 | Publication of Dutch study on near-death experiences in The Lancet. |
| 2005 | Awarded the Dr. Bruce Greyson Research Award. |
| 2006 | Awarded the WCCPC 2006 Life Time Achievement Award. |
| 2007 | Published Endless Consciousness in the Netherlands. |
| 2010 | He received the ‘2010 Book Award van de Scientific and Medical Network’. |
| 2017 | He received the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Award by the Dutch society of Volunteers in Palliative and Terminal Care (VPTZ). |
| 2020 | The Spiritual Awakenings International (SAI) honored him for his ground-breaking work about Near-Death Experiences as Circle of Honor honoree. |
| 2021 | The Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies started an international essay contest for the best scientific evidence about the possible continuity of consciousness after death. With his article, entitled: ‘The Continuity of Consciousness’ he won the second Prize. For this article: see: https://www.bigelowinstitute.org/ |
| 2022 | In 2022 he was appointed to become a Honorary Member of the Scientific and Medical Network (SMN). See: https://scientificandmedical.net/honorary-members/ |
| 2024 | In 2024 he received in Barcelona the ‘Icloby Award: Premio Somos Alma’ by the ICLOBY FOUNDATION for his scientific research and his contribution to science, and in Madrid he received the ‘Social Reformer Award’ by ANOCHE TUVE UN SUEÑO for his scientific career in demonstrating the existence of consciousness beyond the body in NDE. |
| 2024 | In 2024 he became Advisory Board Member of IANDS, USA, the International Association of Near-Death Studies. |
| Up to the present | Continues as researcher, publicist and lecturer on the relationship between consciousness and the brain |
In November 2007 his book ‘Endless Consciousness’ (Eindeloos Bewustzijn) was published in The Netherlands, which is a bestseller with more than 155.000 copies sold (27th edition). His book was nominated for the ‘Book of the Year 2008’ in the Netherlands. His book was published in Germany in 2009, and it has been published in the English language by Harper Collins in 2010, entitled: Consciousness beyond Life. The science of the near-death Experience, and in the same year the book received the 2010 Book Award van de Scientific and Medical Network. In 2011 the Polish edition was published, the Spanish translation was published in 2012, and in 2012 his book was also published in France. In 2015 the book was also published in Latvia, in 2017 the book was published in Italy, and in 2019 the book was published in Hungary. Recently in 2020 the book was published in China, and in 2021 it was published in Russia. By now about 350.000 copies have been sold worldwide.
