The Health Council and Nutrition Council in wartime The Health Council, founded in 1902. is an independent body which advises the government on the state of scientific knowledge in health matters and related environmental problems. In the 1930s the Health Council experienced major retrenchments. In 1940, when the Germans invaded The Netherlands, only chairman Dr. L.C. Kersbergen and five Council officials remained in service. For this reason the Council was not able to involve itself much in health matters, while the new political situation meant that it was difficult to advise the authorities. Most committees were wound up during the war. The Committee advising on nutrition, founded immediately after the occupation of The Netherlands, was an exception. Soon re-named the Nutrition Council, it became in 1954 an independent body. During the occupation the Nutrition Council took the side of the most vulnerable in society. The Council draw up regulations, by which patients, children, pregnant women and the poor could count on support in the shape of extra rations and nutritive meals provided by the Central Kitchens. In spite of the fact that the Nutrition Council's recommendations were drastic, the authorities followed up a great number of them. The Germans were above all interested in maintaining law and order in the strategically situated Netherlands. Malnutrition must therefore be prevented. The authorities succeeded until September 1944 in implementing this plan. However, when the frontlines closed in on The Netherlands famine broke out. This also marked the end of the role of the Nutrition Council.