Background
The European Begg Society of Orthodontics (EBSO) was founded in 1967 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The society was named after the famous Australian orthodontist P. Raymond Begg (1898–1983), who developed his well-known fixed appliance technique. At that time the Begg technique was used by very many orthodontic clinicians worldwide.
For decades the EBSO was a leading organization of which many well-known orthodontists have been members. The special attractiveness of the biennial congresses was its clinical character, relaxed atmosphere, and sufficient time for presentations and discussions. In the past, clinicians also had to provide case presentations during congresses to become member of the EBSO. Over time, these exams were abolished. When other fixed appliance techniques also got increasingly popular in later years, the topics of EBSO conferences gradually became less focused on the Begg technique, but they remained strongly oriented to daily practice.
The first EBSO congress was held in 1968 in Groningen, the Netherlands. President was professor Booy. Many of the later EBSO congress presidents were also orthodontic celebrities and the congresses were very well attended. But times kept changing and gradually the Begg technique became less populair. That is why it was finally decided to dissolve the association.
In 2017 the Booy Foundation was involved in organizing the 50th anniversary EBSO congress in Amsterdam. To mark the end of a period of 57 years EBSO, the foundation was also asked to organize the 30th and final EBSO congress: ORTHO-AMSTERDAM 2024, a clinically focused conference in a friendly atmosphere with many international top speakers. In addition, at the congress for the first time the Begg Prize 2024 (€ 2500) was awarded for the most important scientific contribution to clinical orthodontics.
ORTHO-AMSTERDAM 2024 was fully booked and a very successful congress. That’s why it was decided at the time to organize a follow-up congress in 2026: ORTHO-AMSTERDAM 2026. At this meeting the Begg Prize 2026 (€ 2,500) will be awarded. The congress is also organized by the Booy Foundation under the presidency of Hayé Remmelink.
