Lecture: From Shadow to Light – Women’s Lives in the 18th Century
During the week of International Women’s Day (March 8), we reflect worldwide on the position of women. The national theme for 2026, #NotMyRight, highlights a persistent issue: the ongoing struggle against systemic inequality, economic dependence, and the invisibility of women’s stories.
Although we are living in 2026, this theme bears a poignant parallel to the life of Aaltje Beeker (1707-1740), the protagonist of Ronald Voortman’s historical novel.
The Modern Relevance of a Historical Drama
In ‘Toch is het mijn!’, we follow Aaltje, the daughter of a prosperous tavern owner on Amsterdam’s Nieuwmarkt. Her future seems secure until an unplanned pregnancy at the age of 17 changes everything. In a city where women were in the majority at the time, their legal status was extremely vulnerable.
The themes of the book align seamlessly with current discussions during International Women’s Week:
Economic Vulnerability: Just like the women in the 18th century, women today are still fighting for true financial independence.
Invisibility in History: Historical sources often focus on men. Voortman breaks this trend by giving a voice to the “ordinary woman.”
Systemic Barriers: Aaltje lost everything due to the social structures of her time. The theme #NotMyRight asks us: which structures still perpetuate inequality today?
Practical Information
Are you interested in history, genealogy, or the evolution of women’s rights? Then join us for this fascinating lecture.
Date & Time:
Friday March 13, 2026
Time: 14:30-15:00 hrs (Changed Program!)
Venue:
library IJmond-Noord
Maerten van Heemskerckplein 3, Heemskerk
Fiction Meets Fact
What makes this lecture extra special is the author’s unique research method. Voortman combines compelling fiction with hard archival evidence. During the afternoon in Heemskerk, he will explain how he brought Aaltje out of the shadows of history and how her personal tragedy symbolizes the resilience of countless women from that era.
“Aaltje’s story is a tribute to the resilience of ordinary people and a critical look at the social structures that shaped their lives.” – Ronald Voortman
For further reading, see the article “Nieuw boek belicht hard realisme van vrouwenlevens in 18e-eeuws Amsterdam” (New book highlights harsh realism of women’s lives in 18th-century Amsterdam) published by Oneindig Noord-Holland (ONH). Available at: Oneindig Noord-Holland
Get your copy of Toch is het mijn! at: Our Stable of Books
About the Author: Ronald Voortman is a passionate writer and historian. With his “Fiction & Facts” series, he brings the past of ordinary people to life. His book ‘Toch is het mijn!’ is available through Donkey Books.
