In 1926, Erik von Willebrand, a Finnish physician, published the first manuscript describing a haemorrhagic disorder in people who were living on the Aland islands off the coast of Finland. This disorder is now known by the name of its discoverer. Since this early observation, von Willebrand disease has been extensively studied. Today, we know the structure and function of the von Willebrand factor and much of its molecular biology. With the availability of safe and effective products, the treatment of von Willebrand disease is continually improving.