Every year, 8 March is International Women's Day, a day where worldwide attention is paid to the welfare and rights of women. One of the most famous people who actively contributed to this is from Sappemeer: Aletta Jacobs (1854-1929). In the Netherlands, she was the first woman to study and the first female doctor. She campaigned for women's health and rights and helped women gain the right to vote. So an important person in regional, national and also international history.
Walking in the footsteps of Aletta Jacobs
The walking route 'In the footsteps of Aletta Jacobs' lets you discover Sappemeer from the time of Aletta Jacobs. You walk past locations that played an important role in her life, such as where she was born and grew up. Along the route are also churches of different faith communities, reflecting the also religiously mixed population of the time. And you walk past the former Rijks HBS, where her desire to become a doctor took a growth spurt when she was allowed to attend classes as an audience member: very special for a girl in those days. A route booklet accompanies the route and can be bought at various entrepreneurs. You can also view the route online.
Aletta Evening Walk on 7 March
To give this heroine of the Veenkoloniën the attention she deserves, there will be the Aletta Evening Walk in Sappemeer on Saturday 7 March (16.15-20.00), focusing on strong women of all times. You will get to know them at the lecture 'Ordinary strong women of the fencolonies' by Marij Thiecke, the performance 'Forward!' by Gabrielle Glasbeek and the performance 'Voortvarende Vrouwen' about the sturdy bargee women of the fencolonies by Operette Society Veendam Wildervank.
You also dive into the 19th, early 20th century in other ways. Like when a pastor preaches or when Aletta Jacobs herself talks about her experiences. In the house where she grew up, you will discover the collection her parents made about their famous daughter. Old photographs show what Aletta saw when she travelled to the university in Groningen. Children can help the blacksmith rivet a ship, do crafts, make a lino-cut, watch comics or dress up like in Aletta Jacobs' time (also for adults).
You can walk from location to location or ride along in a horse-drawn carriage or old fire engine. Along the way, you can stop at one of the catering establishments to eat something tasty, from tasty sandwiches, pancakes and snert to meatballs, fish and Javanese. Admission to the event is €2.50 (children) or €5 (adults). Tickets can be bought in advance online or on the evening itself at the former Rijks HBS (only between 16.15 and 17.00 at the latest), the Koepelkerk and the Ontmoetingskerk (both between 17.00 and 20.00).
Cartoon contest
All primary schools in Midden-Groningen have received the lesson plan 'The adventures of Aletta Jacobs'. This briefly contains her life story, links to interesting videos and cartoon drawings about her life, created by cartoon artist Barbara Stok. Pupils are challenged to create their own comic strip about Aletta's life. During the Aletta Evening Walk, the comics created will be on display in the Ontmoetingskerk, including the winning comic.
On www.ontdekmiddengroningen.nl you will find both the walking route 'In the footsteps of Aletta Jacobs' and on the Uitagenda the 'Aletta Evening Walk'. You can register for the event via the latter.
