The mission hospital of Purwokerto was opened in 1932 by the Gereformeerde Zending. It was supported by the Gereformeerde Kerk van Rotterdam and the churches of the southern part of the province of Zuid-Holland.

Poerwokerto was a Regency and district of the Residency of Banyumas in the province of Central Java. The regeency has almost 400,000 inhabitants, of whom 883 Europeans aand 4,000 Chinese. The vulcano Slamet (3428 m) is situated inside the Regency. On the southern borders the Kali Serajou is flowing. The main town Poerwokerto is situated on the railroad (Gonggryp 1934, 1179).