The 2020 Gaston Baele Memorial lecture featured Dr. Jos Vermylen (KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium) who reflected on the state of thrombosis and haemostasis 60 years ago. In this lecture, dedicated to his former friend and colleague Gaston Baele who was president of the BSTH from 1992 until 2000, Dr Vermylen recalled his experience within the haematology laboratory at St. Rafaël Hospital, Leuven, as a 4th year medical student in 1959.