Women of Schiedam*

Women of Schiedam brings to life the invisible history of women in the city. The first part of the exhibition explores the past, revealing the essential roles women have played in Schiedam’s history over the centuries. Through personal objects, works of art, and a striking metre-long mural, the stories of 12 women – carefully selected by city history curator Merel van der Vaart – come to life.

Visitors will meet figures like Neeltje Andries, who co-ran a timber merchant business with her husband and, alongside Marytje Arendsdochter, defended herself against accusations of witchcraft. The exhibition also sheds light on the experiences of 19th-century domestic servants forced to work from a young age, as well as upper-class women who devoted themselves to caring for the poor. The exhibition also highlights the Turkish women who came to Schiedam as partners of migrant workers, and the caravan dwellers who, in the 1980s, fought to preserve their homes. Together, these stories showcase the resilience, resistance and determination of women throughout history as they fought to secure their rights and establish their place in society.

Image: Johan Alexander (Jan) Dingman, Maid in front of the Mirror, ca. 1890-1910