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.
Anti-trans activism
Vankrunkelsven and spouse Marleen Finoulst are the driving force behind CEBAM, founded in 2013.
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.”
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
“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/
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/
Selectred publications by Vankrunkelsven
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)