Inspiration
Background information, inspirational stories and more
Time to enrich the story of Amsterdam together! We give you reading, listening, watching, browsing and doing tips to learn more about women today and women in history. We regularly add new tips. Get inspired! For whom are you making an ode?
Isaac Israels Portrait of Aletta Jacobs 1919, Amsterdam Museum, Atria loan
Listen
Podcasts, music and audiobooks. Everything you can listen to learn more about women from history, women of today or get inspiration for your ode (in Dutch).
- The podcast De eeuw van de vrouw (The Century of Women). Bestselling author Suzanna Jansen, together with journalist Rachel van de Pol, explores the legacy of the past 100 years from a female perspective and how this resonates with our times.
- Dipsaus (Dips). Socially critical podcast by and for women of colour with Anousha Nzume, Ebissé Wakjira and Mariam El Maslouhi.
- Mina & Mevrouw (Mina & Madam). In this podcast series, Maartje van Duin explores the complex relationship between resident servant Mina & Mevrouw, countess at a castle near Middelburg.
- The podcast Naakt op een kleedje (Naked on a Rug). Heske ten Cate and Yuki Kho discuss a work of art by a female creator with a female guest.
- The podcast De Geschiedenisles die je nooit hebt gehad (The History Lesson You Never Had). A podcast from 2020 featuring forgotten or less heard stories about women in history.
Podcast Vrouwen van Amsterdam
Watch
Movies, documentaries, series, TV shows or surprising movies. So much to see! We share 5 tips to immerse yourself in the world of women.
- Female Gaze Tours of the Amsterdam Museum. In these tours, guest tour guides from outside the museum reflect on the presentations and collection from a female perspective.
- Documentary Godendochters (Daughters of the Gods). Waldemar Torenstra followed the Ajax women in an eventful season and portrays driven stories behind the team.
- Vrouwen van Noord (Women of Noord), series by the Amsterdam Museum. This video series introduces you to inspiring women from Amsterdam Noord.
- Kunst in het Kort (Art in Brief) by Maren de Wit - curator of the Amsterdam Museum. Art in Brief are short videos featuring makers and curatorsthe wordabout objects in the collectionsand presentations of the Amsterdam Museum.
Each month, Dorine Maat gives a quick lecture about a woman who has made an impact on the city of Amsterdam as it is today. Which women in your neighborhood deserve an ode? Someone from your street, your favorite pub or from work who deserves a place in the city's history.
Read
Of course, there is also plenty to read about this topic. Below are tips from our staff (in Dutch).
- Moffenmeiden (Kraut girls) - Rianne Oosterom. Rianne Oosterom describes the history of 'moffenmeiden' from different perspectives: about girls, cutters and bystanders.
- Compagnie dochters, vrouwen en de VOC (1602- 1795) (Company daughters, women and the VOC (1602- 1795)) - Michel Ketelaars. This book focuses on the role of women within the VOC and does away with the classic image of the VOC as a male stronghold.
- Onzichtbare vrouwen: waarom we leven in een wereld voor en door mannen ontworpen (Invisible women: why we live in a world designed for and by men) - Caroline Criado Perez. This book presents numerous examples of how women were and are forgotten worldwide in the design of practical utensils as well as the design of physical space and (medical) research.
- Het Pauperparadijs (The Pauper's Paradise) - Suzanna Jansen. Women play an important role in this family history from Amsterdam to Veenhuizen.
- 1001 Vrouwen uit de Nederlandse geschiedenis (1001 Women in Dutch History) - Els Kloek. A reference work with 1001 biographies of famous Dutch women from the last 1000 years.
Grandma Corrie works and lives in Amsterdam, 2008 Riek Milikowski-de Raat, Amsterdam Museum collection
Brows
There are many online resources to get you started (mostly in Dutch)
- An object from the Amsterdam Museum's collection can be a convenient and inspiring starting point for your ode. Only 9% of the objects have so far been linked to a woman in history. Check out am.adlibhosting.com.
- Dive into the archives of Atria, the knowledge institute for emancipation and women's history, or the collection of the Stadsarchief Amsterdam. These archives contain objects, books and photos. Look at atria.nl or amsterdam.nl/stadarchief.
- Look around the Delpher website. This website contains digitised historical Dutch newspapers, books, magazines and radio bulletins from libraries, museums and other heritage institutions. Search for a woman's name and discover interesting information. Check out delpher.nl.
- Check out the Women's Lexicon. This is an online collection full of biographies of notable women from the history of the Netherlands and its overseas territories, past to present. Check resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon.
In the collection
The Amsterdam Museum has many collection items linked to women. Below, we highlight a few to inspire you. Will you pay tribute to one of these women?
Doen
Discover exhibitions, performances or other activities that introduce you to women who deserve an ode.
- The Amsterdam Museum's Vrouwen van Zuidoost (Women of Southeast) exhibition highlights stories of women who increased solidarity and togetherness in the borough.
- The exhibition For Women Only. The van Eesteren Museum explores the power of design and how products influence the position of women in society.
- Women of Amsterdam Tour. Experience the history of Amsterdam through the eyes of women.
- Valentina Tóth's performance Wildbloei is an ode to the hysterical woman. In this tragicomic, musical and over the top one woman show, she explores the boundaries and clichés of the image of women in our society.
