ABSTRACT
In this chapter we will discuss the role and the nature of qualitative research in the field of nursing research in the Netherlands and Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. The Netherlands and Flanders use the same language, Dutch, but have different legislation and a different history of nursing, nursing education and adoption into the academy of nursing. The situation in Flanders is quite different from that in the French-speaking part of Belgium, where nursing research has a different history and qualitative nursing research is less practiced. Before discussing qualitative research in the Netherlands and Flanders, we will provide some background information about nursing, nursing research and nursing education in those countries.
