Patrik Vankrunkelsven is a Belgian physician, politician, and anti-transgender activist.
Vankrunkelsven is affiliated with the Belgian Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBAM). Vankrunkelsven was an invited speaker at a 2023 conference organized by anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine.
Background
Patrik Jules Maria Vankrunkelsven was born on May 2, 1957. Vankrunkelsven earned a doctorate in 1982 and had been associated with Catholic research university Katholieke Universiteit Leuven [KU Leuven] ever since.
Vankrunkelsven was mayor of Laakdal from 1994 to 2006. During that time, Vankrunkelsven was president of the Volksunie [People’s Union] from 1998 until shortly before it was dissolved in 2001. After briefly aligning with Sociaal-Liberale Partijl [SPIRIT], Vankrunkelsven served as a senator from Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten [VLD] from 2007 until 2011.
Vankrunkelsven then left politics to focus on academia. Vankrunkelsven and spouse Marleen Finoulst are the driving force behind CEBAM, founded in 2013.
Anti-trans activism
Vankrunkelsven is a prominent Belgian critic of gender affirming care for minors. Vankrunkelsven believes that “puberty blockers are a trap that traps children, preventing them from having a chance to change their minds.”
In 2025, Vankrunkelsven and Trudy Bekkering commented on the Trump Administration’s 2025 US HHS report attacking gender affirming care. They noted: “The review used robust methods. […] We have no major remarks on the study design, nor on the conclusions.”
References
Verlooy R (2024). Anti-Gender Mobilizations and Transgender Rights. Tijdschrift voor Genderstudies, 27(4), 351–374. https://doi.org/10.5117/tvgn2024.4.004.verl
Vandendriessche, Lauwke (March 29, 2023). Fel debat over puberteitsremmers en mannelijke/vrouwelijke hormonen: “Wat jullie doen, is een experiment op kinderen.” VRT https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/03/26/puberteitsremmers-en-mannelijke-vrouwelijke-hormonen-wat-jullie/
Coverage in anti-trans press
Sanchez, Darlene McCormick (November 19, 2025). Studies Back Government on Childhood Gender Dysphoria: Peer reviews of a federal analysis citing the significant risks of medical interventions were mostly positive. The Epoch Times https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/studies-back-government-on-childhood-gender-dysphoria-5946713
Anthony, Abigail (November 20, 2025). ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ Proponents Had a Chance to Pick Apart a Critical HHS Report. They Didn’t Have Much to Say. National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/news/gender-affirming-care-proponents-had-a-chance-to-pick-apart-a-critical-hhs-report-they-didnt-have-much-to-say/amp/
Parks, Kristine (November 19, 2025). HHS youth gender care report authors defend findings amid backlash from medical organizations, caution risks. Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/hhs-youth-gender-care-report-authors-defend-findings-amid-backlash-from-medical-organizations-caution-risks
“Ashton, Mia” (April 6, 2023). WPATH’s trans health guidelines allow for medical experiments on children ‘without any scientific evidence’ says Belgian health expert. Human Events https://humanevents.com/2023/04/06/wpaths-trans-health-guidelines-allow-for-medical-experiments-on-children-without-any-scientific-evidence-says-belgian-health-expert#google_vignette
Walker, Corey (April 1, 2023). ‘A Pure Experiment On Children’: Belgian Doctor Says To Toss WPATH Guidelines Out. Daily Caller https://dailycaller.com/2023/04/01/belgium-doctor-toss-wpath-guidelines-out/
Selected publications by Vankrunkelsven
Bekkering, Trudy; Vankrunkelsven, Patrik (October 3, 2025). [Conclusions of peer review, summary of Chapter 5, and evaluation using PRIOR]. In Supplement to Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices Peer Reviews and Replies, pp. 40-51. https://opa.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2025-11/gender-dysphoria-report-supplement.pdf
Vankrunkelsven P, Casteels K, De Vleminck J (2025). Opinion: How to Provide the Best Care for Young People with Gender Dysphoria [Hoe kunnen we de beste zorg geven aan jongeren die te maken hebben met genderincongruentie?]. Belgian Journal of Paediatrics, 27(1), 35–38. https://www.belgjpaediatrics.com/index.php/bjp/article/view/340
Smids J, Vankrunkelsven P (2023). Uncertainties surrounding current gender care: five problems with the clinical lesson ‘Youth with gender incongruence’. [Onzekerheden rond de huidige genderzorg]. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 167, 1-3. Article D7941. https://www-ntvg-nl.eur.idm.oclc.org/artikelen/onzekerheden-rond-de-huidige-genderzorg
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
CEBAM (cebam.be)
X/Twitter (x.com)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)