152 the rijks gold for houkjemuseum gerrits bouma bulletin

Gold for Houkje Gerrits Bouma The Women’s Skating Competition on the Stadsgracht in Leeuwarden on 21 January 1809, Painted by Nicolaas Baur

• pieter roelofs •

round four o’clock on Saturday Detail of fig. 1 more detailed version of a composition A 21 January 1809, Houkje Gerrits that Baur made the year before and Bouma from Veenwouden, the twenty- which is now in the Fries Museum in one-year-old daughter of a bargee, Leeuwarden (fig. 2).4 The two works threw her arms in the air on the – exceptions in the oeuvre of the frozen Stadsgracht, the moat around Harlingen-born marine painter – are Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland.1 among the earliest pictures of women’s By triumphing in the duel with Mayke sports in Dutch history. The work in Meyes Visser from Heeg, four years the Rijksmuseum is the most monu- her junior, she was able to call herself mental example of nineteenth-century the winner of what later would turn paintings of an official skating com­- out to be one of the most famous petition. skating races of the nineteenth century The acquisition of this unusual – a truly popular festival that had work was made possible by a generous commenced the day before with gift from Willem Jan Hacquebord qualifying heats between sixty-four and Houkje Anna Brandsma from young, unmarried women.2 She was Dokkum. The name is no coincidence – awarded an expensive gold cap brooch Mrs Hacquebord-Brandsma is a direct and her name was recorded in the descendant of the winner Houkje ear­liest annals of Dutch skating, but Gerrits Bouma in the fifth generation; she was also the target of adverse she is named after her grandmother, comments. Critics thought it inappro- and her aunt and great-grandmother priate that women should expose also bore the name.5 them­selves to the rigours of skating competitions. They emphasized the Women at the Start participants’ unbecoming style, The competition in Leeuwarden that shameful clothes and excessive Baur chose as the subject of his two exhaustion. paintings was not the only race for In the spring of 2013 the Rijks­ women in the winter of 1808-09, nor museum was able to acquire a scene on was it the first. Three skating races the ice by the Frisian painter Nicolaas for women were organized within one Baur from Lawrence Steigrad Fine month that season in the provinces Arts in New York. Some time earlier, of Groningen and Friesland: in Zuid- it had been identified as a record of broek, Groningen and Leeuwarden. the memorable race in question These were exceptional events, as we (fig. 1).3 The canvas of 1810 is a larger, only know of one public short-distance

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Fig. 1 nicolaas baur, The Women’s Skating Competition on the Stadsgracht in Leeuwarden, 21 January 1809, 1810. Oil on canvas, 59.7 x 74.9 cm. Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, inv. no. sk-a-5020; gift of Willem Jan Hacquebord and Houkje Anna Brandsma, 2013.

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Fig. 2 race for women before then. The first from Veenwouden in the semi-final. nicolaas baur, documented race for female skaters In spite of the incorrect spelling of View of the Wester­ was held on Leeuwarden’s Stadsgracht her name and the discrepancy in her singel in Leeuwarden, on 1 and 2 February 1805 and no fewer age it is highly likely that the latter was in the Winter: than 130 Frisian girls and women, in fact the aforementioned Houkje Speed Skating for Women, 1809. married and unmarried, ranging in age Gerrits Bouma, already a strong skater Oil on panel, from fourteen to fifty-one took part. at the age of seventeen, who four years 39.7 x 44.2 cm. Attracting unprecedented public inter- later succeeded in getting her revenge Leeuwarden, est – according to reports there were as the winner on the same canal.6 Fries Museum, between 10,000 and 12,000 spectators The Frisian Society – the race was won by twenty-year-old The race in 1805 left an indelible for History and Trijntje Pieters – later named in full impression on many people. The very Culture Collection, inv. no. S07596. as Trijntje Pieters Westra – a farmer’s fact that women had sprinted over the daughter from Poppingawier who beat frozen canal underscored the time- sixteen-year-old Janke Wybes from honoured view that everyone was Damwoude. The list of competitors equal on the ice, and the high-spirited reveals that she had first knocked out fellowship the event evoked was a certain Aukje Gerrits, aged twenty, widely celebrated.

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Fig. 3 aldert jacob van der poort, The Women’s Skating Competition on the Stadsgracht The drawing Aldert Jacob van der in a poem that he recited at the dinner in Leeuwarden, Poort of Leeuwarden made shortly in the Oude Doelen of the Leeuwarden 1-2 February 1805, afterwards is of importance in creating city militia after a race for mixed 1805. the image of this competition (fig. 3). couples: ‘We thank you Van der Poort! Coloured ink wash, This sheet was made into a print in the For the fruits of your art still show the pen and grey ink, 9 322 x 412 mm. same year by Jacob Ernst Marcus of entertainment we beheld.’ Leeuwarden, Fries Amsterdam and published there with There was nothing extraordinary Museum Collection, a written account by P.H. Meyer & about women skating around 1800, inv. no. p1986-014. Comp.7 Nowadays we know of several particularly in the northern provinces. versions of it: uncoloured, coloured Skating was second nature, particu- and in black and white (figs. 4-6). larly to the wives and daughters of The impact of this print, both on the bargemen, farmers and agricultural fame of the competition and on the labourers. In the winter, when the depiction of races for women in the roads were impassable, they usually early nineteenth century, was huge.8 travelled over the ice on their skates Eighteen years later, on 18 January for their everyday tasks.10 Skating was 1823, the Frisian lawyer Bavius also regarded as a form of recreation Gijsbertus Rinia van Nauta noted that was accessible to both men and

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Fig. 4 jacob ernst marcus after a drawing by aldert jacob van der poort, Skating Competition for Women in Leeuwarden, 1805, 1805. Etching, 451 x 619 mm. Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, inv. no. rp-p-ob-67.850.

Fig. 5 jacob ernst marcus after a drawing by aldert jacob van der poort, The Women’s Skating Competition on the Stadsgracht in Leeuwarden, 1-2 February 1805, 1805. Etching, grey wash, 477 x 640 mm. Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, inv. no. rp-p-ob-67.851.

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Fig. 6 jacob ernst women. While figure-skating was all From Innkeeper to Director marcus after the rage in Holland, speed skating Originally it was innkeepers and a drawing by was more popular in Friesland and tavern landlords who seized upon the albert jacob Groningen, and on occasion women popularity of skating in the north by van der poort, also took part in skating races over The Women’s Skating staging races, which they advertised Competition on longer distances in small groups. For widely in advance. The huge number of the Stadsgracht example we know of a race to Gronin- people at the competitions guaranteed in Leeuwarden, gen skated by two women in 1801 in them extra trade in the winter, as did 1-2 February 1805, which they covered thirty miles in the trotting races and the Frisian 1805. two hours.11 It is remarkable that over handball (‘kaatsen’) they promoted in Etching and aquatint, the course of the eighteenth century spring and summer. It has until now 394 x 569 mm, the elite, primarily in the west of the Leeuwarden, Fries been thought that the first innkeeper Museum Collection, country, had increasingly distanced to place an advertisement for a race inv. no. pta063c-006. themselves from skating. ‘Nowadays in a newspaper was Nanne Jetzes our people usually look upon skating from the village of Baard.13 However as low entertainment for the common his announcement, which appeared in man’, said the Leiden-born naturalist the Leeuwarder Saturdagse Courant and writer Johannes Le Francq van on 1 January 1780, had been preceded Berkhey in 1773.12 This did not apply to seventeen years earlier by a report about the northern provinces, where skating a skating event that had taken place not remained popular with the majority of in Friesland, but in Groningen. The the population. layout that innkeeper Johannes Tomas

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had to be repeated in the years that followed. A new skating culture developed in the region at this time. Prominent Frisians, members of the local bourgeoisie, gradually took over the organization of short-distance racing. They formed a ‘committee’ with ‘commissioners’, who with permission from the town council saw to the thorough preparation and spectacular presentation of the skating events. They had no regular revenues – from membership fees, for instance, – so they covered a large proportion of the expense themselves; the balance was raised from wealthy fellow towns­- ­people by way of a subscription list. We know little about the motivation of these gentlemen, particularly where the organization of special women’s competitions is concerned. There can Fig. 7 from Grijpskerk used in the Opregte be no doubt that they were well aware rienk jelgerhuis, Groninger Courant on 11 January 1763 that the sensational short-distance A Skating Race, – derived from the usual announce- competitions could be employed as a from the series ments for trotting races at this time, means of keeping the populace happy. The Winter, 1765. with the name of the event, the date, By bringing influence to bear on these Etching and engraving, place and the prizes to be won – became events they also succeeded in eliminat- 143 x 156 mm. the standard template until well into ing the lawless atmosphere of drinking Amsterdam, the nineteenth century: ‘the hon. and fighting that traditionally accom- Rijksmuseum, inv. no. johannes tomas, Landlord of the panied fairs and festivities organized rp-p-1882-a-6035. Pylaars in Grypskerk is minded, on the by innkeepers and tavern owners. This coming Wednesday the 12th of January would not, though, have been their 1763 in the afternoon, to stage a race only motive; they were doubtless also on skates; the fastest skater will receive concerned to underline their authority a prize of a particularly fine silver knife by presenting prestigious prizes, raise and fork.’14 The oldest known picture the profile of their own community of a Frisian short-distance race dates and demonstrate their magnanimity. from precisely this time. In 1765 They most probably enjoyed the the Leeuwarden printmaker Rienk spectacle of competitive skating as Jelgerhuis made an etching and well.16 engraving which showed two speed skaters on a canal amidst a huge The Cold Winter of 1808-09 crowd (fig. 7). This print was included At the end of 1808 there was a realistic that year in the second edition of the chance of new speed-skating events. Leeuwarden-born poet Boelardus After a number of mild winters there Augustinus van Boelens’s De winter was finally a long period of below aver- in drie zangen, an ode to winter in age temperatures in the Netherlands. Friesland, which was published for The lakes and canals froze over – and the first time in 1749.15 so did most of the rivers.17 While the In Friesland, already a province fully major rivers in the middle of the country committed to skating, the ‘magnificent were plagued by drifting ice – which women’s skating race’ of 1805 obviously shortly after the turn of the year caused

160 gold for houkje gerrits bouma several dike breaches and one of the year-old Rienje Johannes from most serious flood disasters of the Grijpskerk and, according to the nineteenth century – the main conse- Ommelander Courant of 13 January, quence of the freeze in the northern ‘was the first skater to cross the line provinces was a desire to skate. By to the loud cheers of the assembled mid-December people were already crowd’.22 In skating-mad Friesland cautiously venturing on to the ice on the news of this competition must ditches and canals, and it was not long have been received with a gnashing of before conditions were such that the teeth. There they had to wait another first competitions could be held. On twelve days before the ice was thick Boxing Day, 26 December, the village enough for a skating competition. of Zuidbroek on the Winschoterdiep The competitions planned for men in to the southeast of Groningen set the Sneek on 11 January23 and for women ball rolling by organizing a women’s in Leeuwarden on 13 January had to competition.18 Fifteen girls had put be postponed because of the sudden their names down at the house of inn- strong thaw.24 The men were eventually keeper Hendrik Koops and stood on able to race in Sneek on 18 and the ice ready for the contest. Thousands 19 January,25 while sixty-four women of onlookers from far and wide had from all corners of Friesland took to gathered to see them skate. But contrary the ice on Leeuwarden’s Stadsgracht to what the skating literature suggests, on 20 January. ‘With the required con- the intended fun on the ice got com­- sent, at one o’clock in the afternoon ­plete­ly out of hand. ‘People had prom­- today there will be a competition on ised themselves the greatest result skates for unmarried women between from this innocent and indeed Nation­- sixteen and thirty-six on a track built al People’s Festival’, reported the for this purpose on the Leeuwarden Ommelander Courant of 30 December. Stadsgracht: a very fine gold cap ‘Everything was perfect and properly brooch will be given to the fastest, and prepared. The weather was absolutely the second fastest will be awarded a beautiful.’19 But despite orders and necklace of jet beads set in gold with a warnings given in advance by the local gold crown on it’, reported the Vriesche council, the two skating tracks were ‘so Courant that morning under the head- occupied by people that the competitors line ‘Ys-vermaak’ (Entertainment on could not move forward unhindered’. the Ice).26 Several attempts were made to start. ‘All kinds of efforts, from calm, friend- ly persuasion to serious threats were The Westerstadsgracht employed’, but the spectators crowded With a great sense of topography, in back on to the track. When the ice both of his scenes on the ice Nicolaas began to break in some places and Baur depicted that part of the Stads- water came to the sur­face, it would gracht in Leeuwarden, surrounded have been irresponsible to allow the by snow, where the clashes of January races to go ahead and with that the 1809 and other major skating com­ spectacle was cancelled.20 petitions were held in the early Eleven days after the debacle in nineteenth century. It was a spot on Zuidbroek, on 6 January, Groningen the Westerstadsgracht at the Wester­ became the first place to stage a contest singel, on the south-west edge of that season. Thirty-six women lined up the city, today somewhere between on the track outside the A gate of the the city’s De Harmonie theatre and fortified city.21 The victor was eighteen- the leaning tower of the sixteenth- year-old Trijntje Scholtens from Win­ century Oldehove church (fig. 8).27 schoten, who challenged nine­teen- Whereas Van der Poort was looking

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in 1791, creating space for a wide avenue in the shadow of a long row of trees from which large numbers of spectators could easily watch the spectacle.29 Today little remains of the buildings featured in Baur’s view of the city. Most of them disappeared in the nineteenth century, in part in connec- tion with the dismantlement of the city and the construction of the Wester- plantage. The Vrouwebuitenpoort had already been pulled down in 1820, followed in 1837 by the Vrouwebinnen- poort. Three years later, in 1840, the Kruithuis was also demolished and Lievevrouwenwaterpoort suffered the same fate in 1859.30 It is debatable whether Baur was present at the skating competition he depicted. Born in Friesland, he was familiar with speed-skating competi- tions and how they worked; there was a race for men in his home town of Harlingen that same week, on 25 January.31 It is clear that his rendition of the scene with the combination of the specific narrative motifs is indebted to the template that Van der Poort had developed four years before. He may also have based the setting in his paintings on an existing topographical illustration. There are significant Fig. 8 in a southerly direction in the drawing similarities, for example, between Viewpoint of Nicolaas of 1805 – with De Hoop mill on the the layout of his composition and a Baur, indicated on Verlaatsdwinger and the Verlaats­ mid-seventeenth-century painting the street map of herberg in the distance – Baur took of the western city canal with the bul­- Leeuwarden, map 49, the view to the north (see figs. 1, 2, 3).28 wark by an unknown artist, which in Frederick de Witt, Stedenboek. From the outer side of the canal, now hangs in the Historisch Centrum 32 Theatrum ichno- diagonally opposite the entrance to Leeuwarden (fig. 9). One nice detail graphicum omnium the Schavernek, where in those days is that this picture also features trees urbium. Perfecte the Lievevrouwenwaterpoort and the used as a repoussoir similar to those afbeeldingen der Kruithuis stood, he looked towards in both of Baur’s works. Whereas steden van de xvii the Vrouwepoort with the two slender the painter depicted these trees on Nederlandschen spires, which was about a hundred his panel in the Fries Museum with provincien in plattegronden, metres further on. The ravelin, the broken trunks and branches, a year Amsterdam c. 1698. fortified island with the seventeenth- later he had them growing through to The Hague, National century outer gate, can be seen on the the top edge of his canvas. There are Library of the left. Behind it Baur depicted De Arend also noticeable differences to be seen Netherlands, tower mill and Oldehove. To the right, in the atmosphere in the two works. sign. 1046 b 16. on the Vrouwepoortsdwinger, the The painting in Leeuwarden is parapets of the city walls had been menaced by a dramatically threatening removed less than twenty years earlier, dull grey sky with massing clouds,

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whereas the painting in the Rijks­ which provided a magnificent and museum, with the exception of the picturesque sight, and that it can be upper right corner, predominantly depicted no better than by the pen in shows a sky in shades of blue and pink. the hand of an artist’.33 Baur used the painted surroundings as a topographically reliable and Friday 20 and Saturday 21 January attrac­tive stage on which he gave his The 1809 competition commenced many figures individual roles. Looking at one o’clock on Friday afternoon at this staffage it is striking that different 20 January when the first two women, motifs in almost identical poses and Antje Gatses from Oldeboorn and clothing appear in both works: the Janke Wiebes from the Valom, took to stooped older woman on skates on the ice for their race.34 Houkje Gerrits the left, the young woman in the left Bouma began her tournament some foreground, the figure wearing the time later against sixteen-year-old same dress as the skaters on the track, Willemke Jans Krol from Hardegarijp.35 and the track sweeper at the finish. On arriving in Leeuwarden between It is likely that he based these figures nine and eleven o’clock, the girls, who on motif drawings that he was able would have skated there from their

Fig. 9 to use repeatedly whenever he liked. villages, put their names down for the anonymous, The picturesque qualities of a narrative speed skating at the Stads Schutters- View of the Westerly skating scene of this calibre had already doelen, accompanied by sixty other City Canal in been recognized in the early nine- Frisian female skating fans.36 From Leeuwarden, c. 1650. teenth century. On 9 February 1805, midday, following the example of Oil on canvas, for example, with reference to the Johannes Seydel, a bookseller near 63 x 76 cm. women’s skating competition held a the Vismarkt in Leeuwarden, who had Leeuwarden, Historisch Centrum week before, the Bataafsche Leeuwarder published a starting list as well as a Leeuwarden Courant reported that the speed skating supplement with a list of the pairs and Collection, inv. no. took place ‘in the presence of thousands heats for the women’s speed skating tha. d.283. of spectators from all walks of life, in 1805,37 Van Altena, the owner of a

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Fig. 10 c.l. van altena, List of Women Skaters and the Prizes Offered in Leeuwarden, 20 January 1809, 1809. Leeuwarden, Fries Museum Collection, inv. no. pta063b-002.

164 gold for houkje gerrits bouma bookshop and a small printing house twenty-two-year-old Jitske Willems in the Vleesmarkt, began to distribute from Akkrum and sixteen-year-old the list of competitors’ names for Lijsbert Tabes from Rijperkerk.43 A the price of five cents (fig. 10).38 The drum or trumpet on the ice announced list, in two columns, gave the skaters’ that the competition would be con­- names, start numbers, ages and tinued the next day at noon. Anyone where they came from. Number 26 is who failed to turn up would be excluded ‘Sjoukje [sic] Gerrits, Veenwouden 21’, from further participation.44 the later winner Houkje Gerrits The continuation of the second heat Bouma. Number 52 is ‘Maike Mejes, began on Saturday around midday, Heeg 19’, the losing finalist Mayke when the women in the right hand Meyes Visser. Although the competi- column of the list of starters got their tion was open to unmarried women chance. In the fifth race Mayke Meyes between sixteen and thirty-six, when Visser came up against the winner of registration had finished it appeared the first heat between twenty-two-year- that Tjetske Annes from Oenkerk old Jantje Wilties from Deersum and was the oldest entrant at the age of twenty-three-year-old Aaltje Beek, who twenty-seven.39 The restriction in was skating on her home ice.45 This age and marital state – young girls, extra effort meant that she was at some­- married women and older women thing of a disadvantage when she came were excluded from taking part – had to race Houkje Gerrits Bouma, who was been introduced to limit the number able to start fresh that afternoon for her of competitors; a lesson learned from third heat – although it should be noted the enormous popularity of the event that many skaters would have skated in 1805.40 The effect was clearly visible. extra distances on Friday evening to go The list of starters was around half as home, only to return to Leeuwarden long as that of four years before. on Saturday morning.46 Both skaters That Friday the skaters went right – Bouma and Visser – managed to win through the list. The famkes – Frisian their third and fourth heats. In heat for young, unmarried women – were five – the semi-final – Houkje Gerrits given a number in accordance with Bouma started against seventeen- the starting list, which had to be worn year-old Rigtje Freerks Boonstra from visibly and determined when they Nes, whom she defeated with some raced.41 Number one raced against difficulty after several races.47 Mayke number two, number three against Meyes Visser also outdid her opponent number four and so on. Each heat and as a result between half past four consisted of several races. The skater and five o’clock she was able to take who lost two races was eliminated.42 to the ice to compete for the gold cap Of the sixty-four women who had brooch against Bouma, who was two entered, thirty-two were left after the years her senior. first heats and went through to the After a tournament of two days, second. When darkness fell, between using a system of elimination of six half past four and five o’clock that heats and a total distance travelled of afternoon, the competition was around 2,000 to 2,500 metres, Houkje adjourned. Half of the second list – Gerrits Bouma became champion of sixteen pairs in total – had by then the speed skating track on Leeuwarden’s competed against the winners of the Stadsgracht.48 ‘Prize’ (‘prijs’) was writ­­- first heat, which meant that at that ­ten in brown ink after her name by the moment there were still twenty-four owner of the list of competitors, which women in the race. Houkje Gerrits is now in the Fries Museum (see fig. 10). Bouma also managed to defeat the He also added ‘bonus prize’ (‘premie’) winner of the first heat between to Mayke Meyes Visser’s entry.49

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Fig. 11 It was not until the second half of the Detail of the track nineteenth century, after the appear- sweeper (fig. 1). ance of skating clubs, that the length of a skating track was fixed at 160 metres for men and 140 metres for women. These distances are still used today.52 We know of no accurate descrip- tions of the conditions that a speed- skating track had to satisfy at the time that date from the first decades of the nineteenth century. There is only one occasion when the qualities of a track were mentioned in general terms in newspapers of the time: in the Vriesche Courant of 25 January 1809, which reported on the men’s competition in Sneek that weekend, ‘the track was entirely free and unobstructed for the skaters’. The detailed account by the Leiden-born lawyer Johan van Buttingha Wichers in his book Schaatsenrijden of 1888 says it all.53 This skating expert maintained that the exits from the track had to be at least thirty metres The Speed-Skating Track long and the individual lanes each had As they had done in 1805, the Commis- to be a minimum of three metres wide. sioners had a fine, mirror-smooth track The piste as depicted by Baur appears made in January 1809, marked by three to follow these measurements in broad lane dividers carefully built out of terms. Van Buttingha Wichers argued snow. In both of Baur’s paintings a that the best way of separating the track sweeper stands to the left of the lanes from one another was by means finish line with a broom in his hand; he of a sturdy, white-painted rope or – as was responsible for preparing the ice we can also see in the paintings under and keeping it clean (fig. 11). Thanks to consider­ation – a partition with a a rather long-winded description in the narrow snow barrier, which had to be supplement to the 1805 list of starters, watered (see fig. 1).54 The start of the we know the track’s exact length, track was marked by colourful stream- expressed in old measurements: ‘The ers on long poles, similar to the double Track, on the City Canal, on which the Dutch flag on the left in the back- speed skating takes place, measured ground of the Rijksmuseum painting. 40 King’s rods; but Two rods of which A flag was also often placed at the have been removed, thus the Track had finish, although it is doubtful whether a length of 38 King’s rods, 25 of which it was such an impressive example as are almost equal to 26 Rhenish rods; Baur suggests in the painting in the therefore the Track had a length of Fries Museum (see fig. 2), where a huge 39 ½ Rhenish rods.’50 If the King’s rod, Dutch tricolour flutters proudly. In which had been the standard in 1870 it was replaced at speed-skating Friesland since the sixteenth century, is competitions in Friesland by the converted into the current metric system Frisian flag with its distinctive it gives a length of around 149 metres.51 pompeblêden (water-lily) motif.55 In those days this distance was not Side tracks were constructed around standard in short-distance competitions. the double track for the competitors

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to warm up. Baur painted one in the the same principle: full of rituals and foreground on the left, partially free ceremonial ostentation.58 However we of snow and full of skaters and a few know little about the precise organiza- dignitaries (see figs. 1, 2). Aside from tion of the early competitions. It was the competitors, the judges and those not until 1847 that a ‘Notulenboek van in charge, the promoters of the de Hardrijderij op Schaatzen’ was kept entertainment – the ‘subscribers’ by a committee of dignitaries which – were also allowed on the ice, each of took on the organization of competi- them with two ladies.56 Baur portrayed tions like these in Leeuwarden.59 representatives from this group formally Nineteenth-century descriptions by dressed in the fashion of the time on Ter Gouw, Hijlkema and Van Buttingha the left in the foreground and on the Wichers also give us an idea of how opposite side of the canal at the side of the competitions were organized.60 the track (see figs. 1, 12). The rest of the According to an old custom, a drummer spectators had to stand on the bank. or trumpeter took up his station at the Writing about the men’s competition end of the track once the organ­izers had in Sneek on 18 and 19 January 1809, arrived.61 Admittedly, Baur’s paintings the Vriesche Courant stressed that do not feature such a figure, but it can ‘to prevent accidents no one will be be assumed that he also played an allowed on the track during the race’.57 important role in the festivities in

Fig. 12 Leeuwarden. It was his job to give the Detail of ‘subscribers’, Ceremony and Ritual signal to get ready – in the case of the the promotors of the Shortly after 1800 speed-skating races, drummer to literally drum up the race (fig. 1). without exception, were organized on skaters.62 The committee and the officials took their places in the ‘directors’ tents’ at the end of the track or half way along it, as can be seen in the centre background of the painting in the Rijksmuseum (see fig. 1). Chang- ing rooms were usually also placed at the end of the track, a motif to which the little wooden hut on the left at the back near the flag may refer (see fig. 1). An enormous crowd thronged the city walls and banks on both sides of the frozen canal and the bridge in the distance. In the Amsterdam painting there is even a cheering boy, waving from a branch of the tree in the left foreground (see fig. 1). The enthusi­astic crowd watches the race. Speed-skating competitions provided an exciting spectacle, not least because of the high speeds that the skaters achieved. In the relatively dull winter period, when active life came to a virtual standstill, the competitive element of speed- skating races undertaken by both men as well as women satisfied the general public’s need for entertainment.63 Or, as Jan ter Gouw so beautifully put it in his Volksvermaken in 1871, ‘When there

167 the rijksmuseum bulletin is skating to be seen, people do not feel everywhere a tightly packed crowd’.65 the cold; biting wind does not make A crowd of such magnitude needed them shiver, and no blizzard drives close supervision. Some weeks before, them away.’64 As can be seen here, the in the Groningen village of Zuidbroek, number of spectators increased – par- it had become only too clear just how ticularly during the second half of the difficult it could be to restrain the tournament – as the number of com­- crowd. The organizers would have petitors decreased. ‘The ladies forsake been keen to prevent such scenes in their stoves for a skating competition, Leeuwarden. In the provincial capital and the old women abandon their they had the advantage of being able foot warmers,’ wrote Van Buttingha to call on the soldiers garrisoned in Wichers in his account of this typically the city, who supervised the event, northern popular festival in 1888, kept the crowd in check, chased young Fig. 13 ‘and the mothers go there with their tearaways off the ice and guaranteed dirk piebes 66 small children in their arms, because the competitors’ safety. It was sjollema, they also have to see it. A packed and specifically pointed out that it had even Racing on Skates colourful crowd forms on the canal been possible to deploy the cavalry on at Heerenveen, banks, the shadow of a living painting, the ice for the event in 1805,67 so this 9 January 1811, 1811. as it were. And wher­ever people direct effective resource was used again in Watercolour, 324 x 449 mm. their gaze – around the track, on the 1809. Baur refers to this exclusive Leeuwarden, ice and on the land, on the fences and aspect by showing two cavalrymen on Fries Museum the culverts, on the timbers and on the ice on the left, keeping the specta- Collection, inv. no. the trees, on the walls and the mills – tors at a distance; the nearer trooper pta498-022.

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Fig. 14 on a rearing horse (see fig. 1). In the (fig. 13).70 He gave a verbal signal to Detail of the finish panel in Leeuwarden the painter even the skaters, possibly supported by the with skaters and has one of the officers drawing his wave of a flag. It was to be more than inspectors (fig. 1). sabre (see fig. 2). Within a couple of a century before the starting pistol moments he would also have called was introduced at races.71 This also to order the unruly boys in the left meant that in those days the start was foreground near the women with their still relatively uncontrolled. It was the refreshment stall. Several troopers skaters themselves who determined also appear to the right of the track. their departure, making use of feints In the left foreground a skater who and distracting manoeuvres. The has recently completed the course starter’s only task was to react to pulls on her coat, while a second their movements, to shout ‘forward’ woman is being helped to put her top (‘voort’) in the case of a simultaneous clothes on (see figs. 1, 2). Following the start or to urge them back in the case example of the men, who skated in of a false start.72 their baize underwear, the women At the finish the first across the checked in at the start in woollen vests line was also determined by eye. In and petticoats.68 The close-fitting the painting in the Rijksmuseum two bodice and the short sleeves ensured inspectors chosen from the members that the wind had less effect on the of the organizing committee stand women, while the cap and scarf at the finishing line, one either side, covered their hair and helped against each holding a Dutch flag (fig. 14). The the cold. There was no starter as we man on the right indicates the winner see today at skating competitions, but by holding up a stick with a pennant, a ‘prompter’ or fuortsizzer in Frisian.69 while the stick remains down on the One such official can be seen between runner-up’s side. A third figure, on the two skaters in a drawing by Dirk the extreme right edge of the painting, Piebes Sjollema in the Fries Museum, holds a list of starters on which the which shows the men’s speed-skating name of the winner will be recorded race in Heerenveen on 9 January 1811 later. In victory the triumphant girl has

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raised her arms in the air, while she many of the competitors had covered looks over her right shoulder at her the track in twelve seconds.75 A similar opponent. Strikingly, Baur showed surprise caused by the women’s speeds both women on traditional Frisian is evident from the description on the skates: with short toe rakes, straight print of 1805. ‘This distance was covered blades, a high neck and bindings in 13 seconds by one woman, with a around the shoes.73 On the track behind side wind, which equates to a speed of the skaters we can see two other 36 ½ feet in one second, and matches women (fig. 15). They follow the two the speed of the best trotting-horses.’76 competitors to the finish, carrying This comparison with racehorses was their outer garments so that the obvious. At that time, after all, travelling women can get dressed immediately. on horseback was by far the fastest The fact that the well-being of the option. It was only when it froze that competitors had a high priority is also this was reversed. In areas abundant obvious from the caption on the print in water people could travel longer after Van der Poort of 1805, ‘All distances on skates each day than were possible care [was] taken of them, by possible on horses.77 Prior to the putting on furs, scarves and coats etc., introduction of the steam train they as well as through the moderate admin- could only be outstripped by ice boats. istration of harmless hot drinks, which The fascination with speed, at a time certainly helped ensure that none of when life proceeded at an entirely the women became cold or unwell.’74 different pace from today, is also Even though measuring or counting evident from the comparison of the – characteristics of the modern sport – speed of the winner with that of a played virtually no role in the early nine- walker. ‘And if the normal speed of a teenth century, the Vriesche Courant of pedestrian is calculated at 4 ½ feet in 27 January took pains to report that one second, then said woman, moving forward with the same speed of 36 ½ feet in each second can cover Fig. 15 an hour’s walk in seven minutes and Detail of a woman almost 24 seconds.’78 Converted into with the skaters’ today’s terms that meant a speed of outer garments in the background and more than 41 kilometres per hour. In a competitor putting spite of the rather rough and ready on her warm pelisse timekeeping, Houkje Gerrits Bouma in the foreground turned out to be relatively faster in (fig. 1). 1809 than Trijntje Pieters Westra had been four years earlier. As we have seen, she covered the distance in 12 sec- onds, which qualified her for inclusion on a list of the fastest skaters of the first half of the nineteenth century in the Opregte Haarlemsche Courant in 1848.79 When one looks at the fastest times achieved by women skaters in 2014 it becomes clear that Houkje’s time must have been extremely optimistic. When Lee Sang-hwa from South Korea improved her own five- hundred-metre world record time to an astonishing 36.36 seconds in Salt Lake City on 16 November 2013,

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Fig. 16 she skated the first hundred metres In the great hall of the militia head- The changing designs in 10.09 seconds.80 For a distance of quarters the young women were in of Frisian cap 149 metres this would give a time of the presence of an ‘illustrious and brooches from the approximately 15.03 seconds – and numerous company of gentlemen and sixteenth to the late nineteenth century that on the mirror-smooth artificial ladies’, who feted them at length all 83 (from left to right, ice of a covered high altitude track, late afternoon and evening. One of from bottom to top). with clap skates and in an aerodynamic the committee members presented In the early nine­ skating suit. the prizes.84 Houkje Gerrits Bouma teenth century the received the coveted gold cap brooch, cap brooch enjoyed Prize-Giving an ornamental clasp worn by women a spectacular flower­ In accordance with the tradition, at the to keep their lace caps in place, while ing in Friesland, evolving into what end of the competition Houkje Gerrits Mayke Meyes Visser was presented was essentially a gold Bouma and Mayke Meyes Visser would with the string of jet beads with the helmet. have been accompanied in a procession gold crown (fig. 16). The Vriesche Leeuwarden, Fries from the Stadsgracht to the large hall Courant of 27 January also reveals that Museum Collection. of the Stads Schutterijdoelen. Proces- Rigtje Freerks Boonstra, ‘who had tied sions like these followed a set pattern: with the aforementioned Haukje [sic] the civic guard, which in 1797 in Gerrits several times’, was ‘honoured’ Leeuwarden was transformed into an with a string of jet beads set in gold as ‘armed militia’, led the way, followed a runner-up prize.85 No account of the by the committee and the winners and panegyric to the finalists has survived, behind them an enthusiastic crowd but there can be no doubt that it of loudly cheering fans.81 It is safe to contained an uplifting message. Two assume that this procession was also weeks earlier, following the women’s accompanied by cheerful music. The skating competition in Groningen, this 1809 women’s skating competition solemn moment of presentation was was typical of the events for which the seized upon to encourage the winners, militia band was brought in during this as the Ommelander Courant reported period: from parades and ceremonies on 13 January, ‘to excel not only in this to welcoming returning troops and graceful art, but also in other female official visits.82 perfections and social virtues’.86

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The prizes they won would have delighted the champions. As the daughters of bargees and farmers, they were used to making ends meet during harsh winters. Gold and silver objects were very alluring.87 The earlier skating literature records that it was customary for winners to treasure durable objects and sometimes even hand them down in the family for generations.88 Most of the skaters, however, were not in that fortunate position. A gold cap brooch was worth anything from 100 to 125 guilders.89 This was a huge sum for the daughter of a bargeman, farmer or agricultural worker who earned less than a guilder for a long, hard day’s work. They seized the opportunity to sell the precious item and turn it into hard cash, sometimes even on the day of the competition itself.90 It is likely that Houkje Gerrits Bouma likewise parted with her gold brooch quite quickly. It is clear from the detailed inventory of her property made in December 1820 – less than twelve years after her glorious victory – that the item of jewellery was no longer in her possession.91 A silver pocket watch, a pair of gold shirt buttons and a pair of silver shoe buckles with steel tongues, valued together at thirty-nine guilders, were the most expensive trinkets she then had in her house. At that time the 980 pounds of bacon in the chimney, which was valued at 160 guilders, was worth considerably more.92 Fig. 17 the Vriesche Courant gave a positive johannes rienks, Cheered and Jeered review of the ‘pleasant entertainment En ves in het The second great skating competition on the ice’ that had taken place ‘as four boerevrys, op het reedryden van for women in Leeuwarden proved years ago’ and concluded ‘everything lxiv fammen, 94 extremely successful. Thousands of went off in perfect order’. Leeuwarden 1809 enthusiastic fans had enjoyed the On 23 January the Leeuwarden (title page). spectacle. At the end there was no bookseller Van Altena started selling Leeuwarden, repeat in Leeuwarden that evening two different lists relating to the Tresoar, Provinciale of the disturbances that had followed competition; one listing the races and Bibliotheek van in Groningen two weeks previously, one with the results.95 Some days later Friesland, 3206 tlbis 1809. when policemen, soldiers and night he published a six-verse poem for four watchmen had had their hands full stivers, written in the Frisian rural calming the overexcited crowd which dialect by Johannes Rienks of Hallum, fought, threw snowballs and stones which was circulated widely by several and even fired shots.93 On 27 January booksellers in Friesland (fig. 17).96

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In overblown terms, with not a little reveal all the charms of their bodies exaggeration, Rienks praised women’s most unfavourably.’100 The corres­ skating to the skies in ninety lines, pondent was not against women’s ‘I estimate that a hundred thousand skating in general, but was particularly watched it’ and ‘Everyone who saw concerned that this time, unlike in it was amazed at/ How the girls flew Leeuwarden in 1805, only unmarried over the ice’.97 Rienks was not just women were allowed to compete, taken with the women’s skating ‘Who calculates the moral disorder prowess, however. Their ‘natural and wretched misfortunes that can qualities’ also made an impression arise out of this?’101 on the family man – so much so that By no means everyone agreed he even became sexually aroused.98 with Philantrope’s attitude. In a later Baur makes their attire an important edition of the periodical, a certain theme in his painting by portraying A.F.A. demurred. ‘I not only term the skaters in their undergarments skating a necessity in our northern and with bare arms, while a discarded regions as exercise – a permissible coat lies by the finish line, the women amusement, but also a fine and grace­- following them with the clothes ful physical art. … to see a beautiful, they took off at the start, and other attractive girl, with amazing skill, competitors, by contrast, putting on gliding and whirling in different their warm pelisses (see figs. 1, 2, 15). It directions along the track – this, with­- is tempting to assume that the painter out doubt, provides an enchanting was aware of the controversy that had spectacle.’102 He was diametrically flared up soon after the competition opposed to his opponent, who did in which the shocking aspect of the not have a good word to say about girls in their revealing clothing played the movement of the skater with her a major role. As early as 7 January the back bent like a half a hoop, her Groninger Courant had somewhat displeasing swinging and pumping played down the disturbances in the arms and her rasping and clawing town that followed the end of the race progression along the ice. Not to by reporting that ‘people should not mention about the dripping sweat, forget the dubious familiarity and the quickened pulse and the gasping flirtatiousness of our country girls, breath in the middle of the winter’s whose countenance and beauty cold. ‘Philantrope’ argued that it delighted lecherous townies at the was barbaric that ‘poor girls from race’.99 Later that spring two readers the peasant class allow themselves of the literary periodical the Vader­ to be tempted by an attractive prize landsche Letteroefeningen crossed to become objects of popular public swords – a discussion that has been entertainment’. ‘But’, A.F.A. coun- treated at length in the skating tered, ‘what is more natural than literature and contributed greatly to giving some gift to the best skaters the fame of the women’s skating and promising and distributing lesser competitions of 1805 and 1809. Under prizes to others, who also excel, if the pseudonym ‘Philantrope’ a letter those gifts, that go to needy maid­ writer set out his critical opinion in a servants, create a pleasant feeling for long moralizing argument. ‘Shame the givers? … No one thinks there is forbids that our bourgeois country girls anything contemptuous, humiliating should discard all their outer garments, or improper about it.’103 But ‘Philan­ in public, in front of thousands of trope’ thought differently. If the ogling onlookers of both sexes, in short-distance races for women were order to start a race, which moreover not stopped, he felt forced to call can seriously injure their health, and upon the might of the ‘Hooge Lands-

173 the rijksmuseum bulletin bestuurders’ (higher statesmen) or of At that moment people realized the king in order to ban the women’s just how unusual speed-skating was competitions.104 for women, as appears from the poem It is unlikely that Houkje Gerrits that Rinia van Nauta recited at the Bouma followed this argument. dinner following this mixed competi- Discussions like these would have been tion: ‘Thus call up remembrance of wasted on her. In 1820 she declared that the past/ How twice in this town,/ she could not even write.105 Her daily Women, too, skated for the Prize,/ reality was the care of her father and Of which the neighbours themselves the family. Seven months earlier, in had previously no notion’.112 June 1808, her mother had died at the Thanks to the short-distance races age of forty-three, leaving at least five for couples, which became popular in children.106 As usual in large families in the 1820s and 1830s, Trijntje Johannes those days, Houkje, as the oldest daugh- Reidenga, a farmer’s daughter from ter living at home, would have played an Goëngahuizen, succeeded in becom­- important role in the upbringing of her ing the first woman to build up an younger brother and sisters.107 At that impressive record of achievements.113 time the competition in Leeuwarden In 1838 in Heerenveen, Tjitske Mentjes and the valuable prize must have come van der Velde from Terband won the like manna from heaven. first competition to be specially organized for women since 1809, but The Discussion Continues like Houkje Gerrits Bouma she only Houkje Gerrits Bouma probably never appears to have been allowed to enjoy competed again after her victory in the fame once.114 It was not until 1809. The mild winters in the period around 1870 that Anke Beenen from between then and 1823 meant that she Langezwaag became the first female would not have had the opportunity Frisian skater who was actually able to to take part in competitions staged make a name for herself by winning specially for women. Even though countless prizes in individual women’s there was no general ban imposed, competitions.115 speed-skating competitions for women Even at that time, though, short- remained a rarity after January 1809. distance skating for women was still a There is a reference to a race in matter for debate. In 1870 the burgo- Leeuwarden in 1812 in the literature, master in Akkrum refused per­­mission but this date is confused with the for a women’s race, and in 1890 his date of a watercolour by Eelke Jelles counterpart in Kampen proclaimed Eelkema in the Fries Museum, which a ban on a skating race for women.116 is based on Baur’s painting (fig. 18).108 In 1895, two generations after the The first opportunity presented itself discussion about the com­petition twelve years later in IJlst, where a in Leeuwarden, the Nieuwe Rotter­ women’s skating competition was damsche Courant reported ‘that no announced for 4 January 1823. Two one will be able to claim that ice sport days before the race, however, it was has benefited since these competi­tions banned by order of Idsert Aebinga van for women have become more popular. Humalda, the provincial governor of … it is true, there are no society ladies Friesland.109 A few days later, though, who fly over the ice in a costume, the women were allowed to compete which does not always strike the in the first race on Leeuwarden’s right balance between suitability Stadsgracht since 1809.110 By having and propriety, yet is it wise to fur- men and girls compete as pairs, these ther emancipate the often mannish races caused fewer objections to seeing characters, who compete for victory, skaters in their undergarments.111 by competitions like this?’117

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Our Women Should Not Work skaters were in essence linked with Fig. 18 Like Horses the traditional trotting races and eelke jelles Let us return once more to 1809 and immediately evoked this association eelkema, The the debate about women’s skating that in contemporaries.120 It was not only Women’s Skating Competition on immediately followed the competition the system of elimination, it was the the Stadsgracht won by Houkje Gerrits Bouma. ‘The speed and the great spectacle that in Leeuwarden, fact is that people are content to let had obvious parallels to horse-racing. 21 January 1809, 1812. our Frisian and Groningen horses When one looks at the earliest Watercolour, trot for a prize,’ ‘Philantrope’ ended documented short-distance skating 383 x 512 mm. his argument in the Vaderlandsche competitions in the eighteenth century, Leeuwarden, Letteroefeningen, ‘but do not demand it becomes clear that the organ­izing Fries Museum, inv. no. p1939-117; the work of horses of our women, tavern owners and innkeepers staged on loan from the and to that end from now on do not the speed-skating competitions in the Ottema-Kingma demand it of our amiable country winter as counterparts to the trotting Stichting. girls or fast skaters!’118 ‘Precisely, Sir!’ races in the summer.121 This was replied A.F.A. ‘Because we do not ask continued shortly after 1800 when our women to do the work of horses dignitaries and local councils took and our horses to do the work of on the organisation of horse races women, we allow our women to race themselves. There was even repeated on skates and not trot, and our horses reference to the performances of the to trot and not race on skates.’119 skaters by comparison to racehorses in But ‘Philantrope’ had a point here. the debate about the women’s skating The short-distance races for women competitions of 1805 and 1809. Among

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other things this is evident from the and set with precious stones for the caption to the print after Van der Poort champion and a pair of heavy, elegantly- of 1805, which states that the speed of tooled gold spurs for the losing the winner ‘compares with the speeds finalist.123 An advertisement in the of the best trotters’.122 But Baur himself Leeuwarder Courant of 14 September also made this connection in the announces the opportunity to painting in the Rijksmuseum by subscribe to ‘the depiction of the depicting a garrison rider on horse- trotting race in Leeuwarden held on back on the extreme right following 2 September 1808, drawn from life the skaters at a canter (fig. 19). The by the artist D. A. Langendyk, who presence of this motif not only expressly attended this race from emphasizes the girls’ exceptionally Amsterdam in order to sketch the high speed, which so fired the imagin­ same accurately and truthfully’. This ation, it also shows the obvious link illustration shows the finish of the between skaters and trotters. In the trotting race on the Marsummerdijk summer of 1808 the Amsterdam in Leeuwarden – a stone’s throw from publisher P.H. Meyer & Comp. took the Stadsgracht – with the Oldehove shrewd advantage of this theme with in the background, flying the flag. a print of the prestigious trotting race The last sentence of the advertise- of 2 September of that year, in which ment is of interest in this context, ‘The Fig. 19 eighteen horses and riders took part drawing is the same size as that of the Detail of the winner (fig. 20). No less a personage than skaters so that it can serve as a pendant in the foreground 124 and a garrison rider Louis Bonaparte had provided the or counterpart’. Evidently the size on horseback in the prizes for this event: an expensive gold of the print was matched to that of the background (fig. 1). box with his monogram in diamonds example that Meyer published three years earlier after the drawing by Van der Poort, so that buyers of the two scenes could have a summer and a winter scene with obvious links – exciting qualifying races, sensational speeds, valuable prizes and heroes of the day (see fig. 3). We do not know if Nicolaas Baur’s painted ice scene also had a pendant of a trotting race,125 nor do we yet know who the first buyers were.126 It would certainly not have been Houkje Gerrits Bouma. In 1820 she only had ‘five paintings and a little drawing’ to the value of two guilders in total.127 Baur’s paintings were probably bought by well-off skating fans in Friesland who had been closely involved with the women’s skating competition of 1809. Around 1810 the painter’s work had achieved a certain reputation – now, in his early forties, he was experiencing the high point of his career. In 1807 King Louis Bona- parte had bought two of his marine paintings, which shortly afterwards were hung in the Royal Museum in the Palace on the Dam.128 The following

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Fig. 20 jan anthonie year Baur won a cash prize of three lasted thirty years until his death in langendijk dzn, thousand guilders at the Exhibition August 1853.135 The 1829 census Skating Competition of Living Artists staged there.129 registers of the village of Bergum list in Leeuwarden, the make-up of Houkje’s mixed family 2 September 1808, And what of Houkje? Houkje Gerrits – she lived with her husband and six 1808. 136 Etching, aquatint Bouma got married in Veenwouden on children from three marriages. and colour washes, 28 January 1810, a year after her victory Assisted by a girl and a farm hand, they 459 x 612 mm. procession in Leeuwarden, to Teunis had a small farm in Bergumerveen Amsterdam, Ybeles Feenstra, a farm hand from the under Bergum with some cows, horses, Rijksmuseum, inv. no. same village.130 Around seven months sheep and a large area of farmland.137 rp-p-ob-67.814. later, on 3 September, she gave birth Houkje Gerrits Bouma, almost half to a son, IJble.131 The good fortune she a century before the heroine of the enjoyed on the skating track was not Westerstadsgracht in Leeuwarden, reflected in her family life. In July 1812 died there on 8 August 1857 at the age she was widowed for the first time at of sixty-nine.138 the age of twenty-four.132 Three years later she married again. Her second It was late in the twentieth century husband, Johannes Cornelis van der before public opinion treated women’s Schans, was a farmer in Tietjerkster- skating as on a par with skating for men. adeel.133 But he too died prematurely, in The first world skating championships November 1820, leaving Houkje with were staged in early January 1889 in two sons and a daughter.134 Her third Amsterdam’s Museumplein, behind marriage, which she entered into at the the recently built Rijksmuseum, forty age of thirty-four in November 1822, years or so after Houkje Gerrits to a farmer, Popke Binnes Vriesema, Bouma’s death (fig. 21).139 The first

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Fig. 21 European championships took place Marianne Timmer and Jorien ter Mors The Rijksmuseum in Hamburg two years later, but there are uttered with respect.143 With the as the backdrop to was still no place for women there. acquisition of the painting by Nicolaas the World Skating They had their first unofficial World Baur the Rijksmuseum now has a richly Championships, 8 January 1889: Championship in 1933, but they had detailed testimony to the early years of in the foreground to wait until 1970 for a European women’s skating in the Netherlands in Klaas Pander. 140 Championship. Whereas men’s general and to Houkje Gerrits Bouma’s Hindeloopen, skating had been on the programme finest hour in particular. Schaatsmuseum. in 1924 at the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix, the women only took to the ice in 1960 in Squaw Valley in the United States. Women’s skating, like its male version, is one of the most popular sports in the Netherlands. Ireen Wüst, with four Olympic gold medals, three silvers and one bronze, the most successful female Dutch skater of all time, is mentioned in the same breath as her male colleague Ard Schenk, who won three gold medals and one silver.141 Atje Keulen-Deelstra, ‘mother, farmer’s wife and skater’, is a household name for Dutch sports fans,142 while the names of gold medal winners Ans Schut, Stien Kaiser, Carry Geijssen, Annie Borckink, Yvonne van Gennip,

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notes 1 Houkje Gerrits Bouma was born on 5 Houkje Anna Brandsma (1935) was named 12 January 1788 in Akkerwoude, the daughter after Houkje Gerrits Bouma by way of her of Gerrit Mients Bouma (1763-1821) and aunt Houkje van der Wal (1886-1957) and Geeske Ringers (1765-1808). She was her great-grandmother Houkje IJbeles van baptized as ‘Houwkjen’ in Akkerwoude on der Veen (1834-1906). Her name has also 3 February 1788 (Hervormde Gemeente been passed on to her granddaughter Houkje Akkerwoude en Murmerwoude, baptisms Maltha (1989). 1706-1812, inv. no. dtb 157, 1788). For her 6 Aukje Gerrits, aged 20, from Veenwouden father’s occupation see Burgerlijke stand (start number 62) was in any event not a sister Tietjerksteradeel, marie Bergum, marital of Houkje. Her sister Aukje Gerrits Bouma appendices 1815, deed 22. was born around 1801-02, married Fokke 2 Mayke Meyes Visser was born on 4 November Hendriks Roosma on 7 May 1825 at the age 1789 in Gaastmeer, the daughter of Meye of 23 in Tietjerksteradeel (Tietjerksteradeel, Haitzes Visser (1754-1826) and Gerbrig marriage register 1825, deed 11) and died on Sybolts (1756-1826). She was baptized as 31 December 1835 in Veenwouden, at the age ‘Maijke’ in Gaastmeer on 17 January 1790 of 34 (Tietjerksteradeel, death register 1834, (Hervormde Gemeente Gaastmeer en p. B25). For the identification with Houkje Nijhuizum, baptisms 1772-1812, inv. no. 987, Gerrits Bouma see R. van den Berg, Nieuws- 1790). She married in Wymbritseradeel at blad van Noord-Oost Friesland, 19 January the age of forty on 1 February 1831 Jouke 2009. With thanks to Hedman Bijlsma. It Joukes Buitenrust (1786-1835), workman would not be the only time that competitors’ (Wymbritseradeel, marriage register 1831, names would be misspelled or ages incorrectly deed 4). On her death on 12 April 1856 in given on registration during those early IJlst she was called Maaike Visser (IJlst, years. The Houkje Gerrits, aged 28, from death register 1856, deed 10). She had one Wijns, who appears on the list, is not the son, Jouke Buitenrust, born in 1832 in same as Houkje Gerrits Bouma. For the Wouds­end (Wymbritseradeel, birth register 1805 winner see A.M. Mreijen, ‘Pieters 1832, deed A184). It is interesting to note Westra, Trijntje’, in E. Kloek (ed.), 1001 that her husband Jouke Joukes Buitenrust Vrouwen uit de Nederlandse geschiedenis, also took part in skating competitions. Nijmegen 2013, pp. 892-93, no. 630 and On 18 February 1809 he appeared at the Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland, start of a race in Sneek (written notification via http://www.historici.nl/Onderzoek/ by Ron Couwenhoven, 16 December 2013). Projecten/dvn/lemmata/data/TrijntjePieters 3 The identification of The Women’s Skating (consulted 9 December 2013). Trijntje Competition on the Stadsgracht in Leeuwarden, Pieters Westra is incorrectly named 21 January 1809 was proposed on 27 September ‘Trijntje Pieters van Poppingawier’ here. 2010 by the writer of this article by letter to the 7 The full inscription on this print reads, then owners, the Hascoe family in Greenwich luisterryke vrouwen schaatschen (ct). See sale New York (Sotheby’s), 9 June rydparty/ Gehouden te leeuwarden op 2011, no. 70. For the old interpretation see den 1sten en 2den February des Jaars 1805/ sale Vienna (Christie’s), 29-30 October 1996, Opgedragen aan de In en Opgezetenen van no. 583 (as The Ice-Skating Competition/Der Vriesland. See W. Eekhoff, De stedelijke Eislaufwettbewerb); P.C. Sutton, Old Master kunstverzameling van Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden Paintings from the Hascoe Collection, exh. cat. 1875, p. 88; J. van Buttingha Wichers, Greenwich, CT (Bruce Museum) 2005, Schaatsenrijden, The Hague 1888, after p. 175. pp. 62-63, no. 27, fig. (as Skating Scene on The Fries Museum in Leeuwarden also has a Frozen Waterway before a City). an ink and watercolour drawing on paper, 4 The canvas in the Rijksmuseum is signed 220 x 332 mm, by Jan Anthonie Langendijk and dated upper right: N. Baur 1810. The (inv. no. pta-063c-017) after the print. It is panel in the Fries Museum bears the signa- noticeable that in his drawing there are ture and date lower left: N. Baur 1809. countless figures on the right of the mill on A. van den Berge-Dijkstra and H.P. ter Avest the ramparts that are absent from Van der (eds.), Woelend water. Leven en werk van Poort’s drawing but do feature in the print. de zee­schilder Nicolaas Baur (1767-1820), 8 It was possible to subscribe to the print at exh. cat. Harlingen (Gemeentemuseum Het P.H. Meyer’s looking-glass stall (‘spiegel­ Hannemahuis) 1993, pp. 44-45, cat. no. 9, ill. kraam’), which he took to Leeuwarden in

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July 1805. For this see the Leeuwarder Courant, De winter in drie zangen, Leeuwarden 1749 13 July and 17 July 1805. A reduced version of (reprinted in 1765). the print was included in the popular books 16 For this development and the role and mean- by E. Maaskamp, Merkwaardige Gezigten, ing of skating in Dutch culture and society, Gebouwen, Monumenten en Standbeelden in de see J. ter Gouw, De volksvermaken, Haarlem Noordelijke Provintien van het Koningrijk der 1871, esp. pp. 592-93; D.M. van der Woude, Nederlanden, Amsterdam 1816; E. Maaskamp, Vrouwen in de hardrijdersbaan, Assen 1944, Afbeeldingen van de kleedingen, zeden en esp. p. 7; Van Schuppen, op. cit. (note 10), gewoonten in de noordelijke provincien van pp. 16-18; E. Venbrux, ‘Op het ijs kent men het Koningrijk der Nederlanden, met den ’s lands wijs. Over de betekenis van het aanvang der negentiende eeuw, Amsterdam schaatsen’, in H. de Jonge (ed.), Ons soort 1829. With thanks to Marlies Stoter, Fries mensen. Levensstijlen in Nederland, Nijmegen Museum, Leeuwarden. 1997, pp. 273-311, esp. p. 292 for the accent 9 ‘En dank ô van der Poort! nog toonen/ De on healthy exercise; J. Steendijk-Kuypers, vruchten uwer kunst, ’t vermaak door ons Vrouwen-beweging. Medische en culturele aanschouwt.’ R.v.N. [Mr. Bavius Gijsbertus aspecten van vrouwen in de sport, gezien in Rinia van Nauta], Dichtregelen, ter het kader van de sporthistorie (1880-1928), gelegenheid der hardrijderij op schaatsen Rotterdam 1999, pp. 117-28; J.H. Furnée, te Leeuwarden, den 18 januarij 1823, voor­ ‘The Thrill of Frozen Water: Class, Gender gedragen op de maaltijd die dezelve is opge­ and Ice-Skating in The Netherlands, 1600- volgd, Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden, 1900’, in S.C. Anderson and Bruce H. Tabb, coll. i-1225, Schaatsdrukwerk. Water, Leisure and Culture: European 10 N. van Schuppen, ‘Van Vrouwenvermaak Historical Perspectives, Oxford/New York tot Damesrekreatie. Een overzicht van de 2002, pp. 53-70, esp. p. 58. With regard Nederlandse ontwikkeling van sportbeoefe­ to Leeuwarden see C. Kruisinga and ning door vrouwen in de negentiende eeuw’, P. de Groot, IJsvermaak in Leeuwarden. Jaarboek voor vrouwengeschiedenis 1 (1980), Geschiedenis van Koninklijke Vereeniging pp. 16-17. ‘De IJsclub’ 1850-2000, Leeuwarden 1999, 11 G.A.E. Bogeng, Geschichte der Sport aller pp. 7-8. With regard to Groningen see Völker und Zeiten, Leipzig 1926, pp. 539-40. B. Hofman and K. Otten, Schaatsen in 12 ‘Onze lieden van aanzien houden het Groningen, Assen 2012. Schaatsryden tegenwoordig veelal voor een 17 J. Buisman, Extreem weer! Een canon van laag vermaak van den gemeenen Man’, weergaloze winters & zinderende zomers, hagel J. Le Francq van Berkhey, Natuurlyke historie & hozen, stormen & watersnoden, Franeker van Holland, vol. 3, Amsterdam 1773, p. 1872. 2011, p. 245. 13 H. Bijlsma, Ien, twa, trije: fuort! Het kortebaan- 18 Ommelander Courant, 23 December 1808. schaatsen in Friesland, Heerenveen 1985, p. 4; 19 ‘Men had zich van dit onschuldige en H. Bijlsma, Yn streken. Tachtig jaar Bond van inderdaad Nationaal Volks-Feest de heer- IJsclubs in twee eeuwen Friese schaatssport, lykste uitwerking beloofd’. ‘Alles was Franeker 1999, p. 16. After the conclusion of uitmuntend en behoorlyk vóórbereid. this article Mr Hedman Bijlsma published his Het weder was by uitstek schoon.’ article, ‘Men vindt dit geen Friesche rijderij. Ommelander Courant, 30 December 1808. Waarom kreeg de langebaan zo laat voet aan 20 ‘zoodanig met menschen bezet, dat de de grond in Friesland?’, Sportwereld 68 wedloopsters niet ongehinderd konden (autumn/winter 2013). In it he refers to two voortryden.’ ‘Allerhande pogingen, zoo van advertisements for a race ‘op Schaatzen’ vriendelyke en bedaarde overreding, als van (on skates) and ‘met Schaatzen’ (with ernstige bedreiging, werden aangewend’. Ibid. skates), respectively in Menaldum and 21 Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), Baard on 3 February 1776 in the Leeuwarder p. 178, speaks of thirty-seven competitors. Saturdagse Courant. The Ommelander Courant, 13 January 1809, 14 ‘De e. johannes tomas Castelein in and the Oprechte Haarlemse Courant, de Pylaars tot Grypskerk is gesint, op 14 January 1809, emphasized the unusual aanstaande woensdag den 12 january 1763 nature of this competition, ‘eene vermakelyk- ’s midd: op Schaatsen te laten Verryden een heid, waar van men zich niet herinnert tot extra fraaye Silveren Mes en Vork, zullende dus ver in deze Stad een voorbeeld gezien te de snelste Ryder die Praemie genieten.’ hebben’. Opregte Groninger Courant, 11 January 1763. 22 ‘onder de luide toejuichingen der saam­ 15 B. Bornius Alvaarsma (pseudonym of gevloeide menigte het eerst over den loop- Boelardus Augustinus van Boelens), baan terug kwam’. Ommelander Courant,

180 gold for houkje gerrits bouma

13 January 1809; Oprechte Haarlemse Courant, 34 C.L. van Altena, Lijst der schaatsrijdsters, 14 January 1809. For this competition see op de uitgeloofde prijsen, te Leeuwarden, den also De Navorscher 5 (1855), p. 222, question 20 Januarij 1809 (Leeuwarden, Fries Museum, cxxxiii, and 6 (1856), pp. 141-42. inv. no. pta063b-002). Start numbers 1 and 2. 23 Vriesche Courant, 6 January 1809. 35 See note 34. Start numbers 25 and 26. 24 For the weather conditions at the time see 36 Vriesche Courant, 20 January 1809. Buisman, op. cit. (note 17), p. 245. 37 J. Seydel, Naamlyst der vrouwspersonen, welke 25 Vriesche Courant, 25 January 1809. This race, den 1 Februarij 1805, te Leeuwarden zijn with a hundred competitors, was won by Atze ingetekend, om op Schaatzen te rijden op Geerts Atsma from Terzool with Sybren twee prijzen, de Eerste een Gouden Oorijzer, Hyltjes from Deerzum in second place. en de Tweede een streng gitten met een gouden 26 ‘Met vereischt consent, zal men heden kroontie (Leeuwarden, Fries Museum, nademiddag ten één uur, op de Stads Gragt inv. no. pta063b-1805). He advertised the te Leeuwarden, op een daartoe vervaardigde supplement in the Bataafsche Leeuwarder Baan, door Ongehuwde Vrouwen boven de Courant on 9 February 1805. Zestien en beneden de Zes-en-dertig Jaaren 38 See note 34. The availability of this list oud, laten Verryden op Schaatzen: een zwaar was reported in the Vriesche Courant on fraay gouden oor-yzer, benevens een streng 20 January 1809. gitten in ’t goud met een gouden kroon 39 See note 34. The Vriesche Courant of daaraan; zullende het eerste aan den als dan 27 January 1809 also reports that all hardst rydenden, en het tweede aan den competitors were aged between sixteen daaraan volgende hardst rydenden worden and twenty-seven. vereerd.’ Vriesche Courant, 20 January 1809. 40 The number of registrations in 1805 could It is interesting to note that the competitions have been even larger. The list was closed for women in those days were advertised as on account of the approaching start. Van der ‘wedloop op schaatsen’ (races on skates) or Woude, op. cit. (note 16), p. 7. ‘ysvermaak’ (entertainment on the ice), 41 Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), whereas the more forceful terms ‘hardry- p. 176. It was not until the middle of the dery’ or ‘verhardryden’ (speed skating) were nineteenth century that numbers were hung used for the men’s races. up at the end of the track, so that the public 27 J. de Groot and L. Ooijman, Stadswandeling and the skaters could see who had to start. Leeuwarden. Sporen van vermaarde vrouwen, A competition in Grou in 1848 was probably Leeuwarden (Historisch Centrum Leeu- the first occasion. See Bijlsma 1999, op. cit. warden) 2011, p. 59. Later the competitions (note 13), p. 17. were moved to the northern city canal at the 42 Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), Prinsentuin. See L. Plaisier and T. Sandijck, pp. 302-04. If both skaters had won a race, Leeuwarden. Stadswandeling en monumenten. a third followed. This could happen in De museumhaven en sporen van historisch the event of a kamprit, when both skaters vaarwater, Leeuwarden 2013, p. 30. finished at the same time. This was a regular 28 Eekhoff, op. cit. (note 7), p. 88, mentions the occurrence in those days as the winner was ‘Verlaatsbaan’ with the ‘Prinsen-weitmolen’ judged by eye alone. on the left and the ‘Harlinger stal en de 43 See note 34. Start numbers 57 and 58. singer’ on the right. 44 Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), 29 W. Eekhoff, Geschiedkundige beschrijving p. 176; Van der Woude, op. cit. (note 16), van Leeuwarden, de hoofdstad van Friesland, p. 8. Ommelander Courant, 13 January 1809; Leeuwarden 1846, p. 181. Oprechte Haarlemse Courant, 14 January 1809. 30 M. Schroor, De Leeuwarder stadspoorten, 45 See note 34. Start numbers 53 and 54. http://www.gemeentearchief.nl/text/1083/ 46 In the past the wildest stories have been De_Leeuwarder_stadspoorten (consulted quoted about this business of skating to and 9 December 2013). fro between Leeuwarden and the skaters’ 31 Vriesche Courant, 25 January 1809. homes. The tale of Trijntje Uiltjes (c. 1754- 32 Old inv. no. S1974-347. 1825) from Terhorne is particularly remark­ 33 ‘in het byzyn van duizenden Aanschouwers, able. According to Van Buttingha Wichers, uit alle Oorden te zamen gekomen, het op. cit. (note 7), pp. 176-77, at the end of the welk een heerlyk en schilderagtig gezicht first day of the 1805 competition this oldest opleverde, en dat dan niet dan door den competitor skated for seven hours to get Tekenpen, in de hand eens Konstenaars, naar back home, only to return to Leeuwarden waarde kan afgemaald worden’. Bataafsche the next morning. This story is repeated in Leeuwarder Courant, 9 February 1805. literature countless times. However the list

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of competitors shows that she had already J.H. van Swinden, Vergelijkings-tafels tusschen been knocked out on the first day. See de Hollandsche lengte-maten en den mètre. Bijlsma 1999, op. cit. (note 13), p. 18. How- Met het nodige onderrigt voor dezelve maten, ever, in view of the early loss of light, it is Amsterdam 1812. possible that the skaters who had secured 52 Bijlsma 1999, op. cit. (note 13), p. 17. a place for the second day remained in 53 Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), Leeuwarden. See Steendijk-Kuypers, op. cit. pp. 297-98. The author assumes that ‘a (note 16), p. 121. normal skating track’ is 160 metres long; 47 Vriesche Courant, 27 January 1809. See note in the second half of the nineteenth century 34. Start number 7. Rigtje Freerks Boonstra this referred to a track for men. was born in Nes in November 1791, the 54 Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), daughter of the farmer Freerk Clazes pp. 297-98. He considered slats or lumps Boonstra and his wife Minke Oenes. She of ice less suitable as they ‘have the charac- married Symon Kerstens on 16 May 1812 in teristics of never wanting to follow the right Akkrum (Akkrum, Utingeradeel, marriage course, and also … become detached at the register, deed A1). They had six children. least touch of a skate and lie diagonally She died on 24 January 1870 (Opsterland, across the track’. death register 1870, deed A10). 55 Kruisinga and De Groot, op. cit. (note 16), 48 The total distance covered by the finalists p. 24. was a minimum of 1,800 metres (six heats 56 Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), of two races of 149 metres) and a maximum p. 176. of 2,700 metres (six heats of three races). 57 ‘dat niemand, ter voorkoming van ongelukken, Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), geduurende de Hardrydery, op de Baan p. 179, writes about the finalists of the zal worden toegelaten’. Vriesche Courant, women’s’ competition in Groningen on 6 January 1809, in regard to the competition 6 January 1809: ‘Ieder dezer meisjes moet, on 13 January, which was ultimately post- wanneer men de afstanden van al de door poned for a number of days. hen gedane ritten bij elkander neemt, meer 58 For this see Venbrux, op. cit. (note 16), dan 10 mijlen hebben afgelegd.’ (‘Each of pp. 288-89. these girls must have covered more than 59 Leeuwarden, Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden, ten miles if the distances of all of races Notulenboek van de Hardrijderij op Schaatzen; they have taken part in are added up.’) Kruisinga and De Groot, op. cit. (note 16), Given that there were thirty-six entrants p. 7. this seems grossly exaggerated. 60 Ter Gouw, op. cit. (note 16), pp. 592-93; 49 See note 34. S.H. Hijlkema, Nederlandsch handboek voor 50 ‘De Baan, op de Stads Gragt, waarop het IJs-sport, Amsterdam 1887; Van Buttingha Hard-rijden is geschied, was, afgemeeten Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), pp. 216-24. 40 Konings roeden; doch waarvan Account should be taken of the fact that afgenomen zijn Twee roeden, dus de waare these books were published sixty and seventy lengte 38 Konings roeden, waarvan 25 zeer years respectively after the 1809 competition. na bij gelijk zijn aan 26 Rijnlandsche roeden; 61 For a drummer at a skating event see Ter dus had de Baan eene lengte van 39 ½ Rijn- Gouw, op. cit. (note 16), p. 10, fig. landsche roede.’ Beschrijving van het hard- 62 Venbrux, op. cit. (note 16), p. 290. See also rijden, door vrouwen, op bijgaande Plaat note 44. voorgesteld, 1805 (Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, 63 Venbrux, op. cit. (note 16), p. 290. inv. no. rp-p-ob-67.851a). The length of 64 ‘Als er schaatsenrijden te zien is, voelen the race in 1805 was also mentioned in the menschen geen kou; geen snerpende wind Bataafsche Leeuwarder Courant of 9 February doet hen rillen, en geen sneeuwbui jaagt hen 1805. The fact that it was also estimated to be weg.’ Ter Gouw, op. cit. (note 16), p. 593; about 38 King’s rods in 1809 comes from the Venbrux, op. cit. (note 16), p. 290. Vriesche Courant of 27 January 1809. 65 ‘De dames verlaten voor een hardrijderij haar 51 In 1813 the length of a King’s rod was officially kachels, en de besjes haar warme stoof en fixed at 3.91278 metres. The Rhenish rod, de moeders gaan er heen met haar kleine from 1808 the standard measure in the kinderen, die ’t ook al zien moeten, op den Netherlands, was 3.767358 metres. For the arm. Op de grachtwallen vormt een dicht Rhenish rod see Van Buttingha Wichers, opeengehoopte bonte menigte als het ware op. cit. (note 7), p. 178 (3.7673 metres). de schaduw der levende schildering. En For general information about measure­- waarheen men de oogen richt – buiten om de ments in the early nineteenth century see baan, op het ijs en op het land, op de hekken

182 gold for houkje gerrits bouma

en de heulen, op de balken en de boomen, rekend, dan had gemeld Vrouwspersoon, met op de muren en de molens – overal een dicht dezelfde snelheid van 36 ½ Voeten in ieder samengepakte menigte.’ Van Buttingha Secunde voort rijdende; één uur gaans in Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), pp. 219-21. Zeven minuten en bijna 24 Secunden kunnen 66 Kruisinga and De Groot, op. cit. (note 16), afleggen.’ Ibid. This way of indicating the p. 9. time was maintained until the second half 67 Beschrijving van het hard-rijden, door vrouwen, of the century. See for example Eekhoff, op bijgaande Plaat voorgesteld, 1805 (Amster- op. cit. (note 7), p. 88, ‘She covered the track, dam, Rijksmuseum, inv. no. rp-p-ob-67.851a). 38 king’s rods long, in 13 seconds: an hour’s See note 50. walk in 7 or 8 minutes.’ (‘De baan van 68 Men still skated in knitted long johns and 38 koningsroeden lengte werd door haar in a baize shirt until the First World War. 13 sekonden afgereden: een snelheid van 7 à See A.M. Meijerman, Hollandse winters, 8 minuten in een uur gaans.’) Hilversum 1967, p. 14. 79 Opregte Haarlemsche Courant, 18 January 1848: 69 Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), ‘1809, 20 Jan. Door Haukje (sic) Gerrits, p. 222, incorrectly uses the term foartsizzer. van Veenwouden, is de baan, lang 148 Ned. With thanks to Hedman Bijlsma. Ellen, afgereden in 12 sec.’ See also Van 70 A second sheet with the same composition Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), p. 312. in pen and coloured ink with colour washes, 80 With thanks to Nol Terwindt, Koninklijke 330 x 460 mm, signed and dated lower left, Nederlandsche Schaatsenrijders Bond D. Sjollema/ Te Heerenveen den 9 januarij (knsb), written communication 25 January 1811, was discovered in private hands in 2014. Leeuwarden in 1998. Sjollema also drew the 81 On 19 January 1809 in Sneek the winners finish of this race: pen and coloured ink with were ‘accompanied in triumph from the ice colour washes, 257 x 381 mm (Leeuwarden, through a part of the town and followed by Fries Museum, inv. no. pta-498-23); S. ten the armed citizens to an inn called the Witte Hoeve and M.J. Seffinga, ‘Dirk Piebes Arend’ (‘van het Ys, door een gedeelte der Sjollema (1760-1840), Fries Schepenschilder’, Stad en gevolgd van de gewapende Burgers, Jaarverslag 1997, Fries Scheepvaart Museum tot aan de Herberg de Witte Arend, in triumph en Oudheidkamer, Sneek 1998, nos. 45-47. begeleid’); Vriesche Courant, 25 January 1809. 71 D. Rewijk, ‘Hurdriders & schaatsenrijders. The winners of the competition in Groningen Onbegrip op het ijs (1880-1890)’, in on 6 January were accompanied by ‘a delega- G. Jensma and P. Breuker (eds.), Friese sport: tion of the directors of the race’ (‘eene com- tussen traditie en professie, Bornmeer 2009, missie uit de directeuren der wedloop’); p. 71 (early twentieth century); Venbrux, Ommelander Courant, 13 January 1809. op. cit. (note 16), p. 290 (in 1929). See Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), 72 Rewijk, op. cit. (note 71), p. 72. pp. 223-24, for a description of processions 73 J. van Geuns, Volledig leerstelsel van kunst­ like these in the second half of the nineteenth matige ligchaamsoefening, Leiden 1812, century. pp. 209, 235; A.C. Broere, Schaatsen en 82 T.P.A. Lambooy, Leeuwarden musiceert. schaatsenmakers in de 19e en 20e eeuw, Anderhalve eeuw muziekleven in de Friese Franeker 1988, pp. 15-17. hoofdstad 1780-1940, Leeuwarden 1974, 74 ‘Alle mogelijke zorg [werd] voor haar gedragen, p. 34. The militia, a ‘Civiele garde’ during zoo door het aantrekken van Pelsen, Soubises the French annexation, was reformed in en Jassen, &c. als door het matig toedienen van 1808 after the men had first been obliged to onschadelijk warm drinken, het welk zeeker hand in their weapons and uniforms. mede gewerkt heeft, dat geene Haarer verkoud 83 ‘luisterryk en talryk Gezelschap Heeren en of ongesteld is geworden.’ See note 67. Dames’. Vriesche Courant, 27 January 1809. 75 For this see Rewijk, op. cit. (note 71), p. 98. For a lively description of gatherings like Clocks or tape measures were not used much this later in the century, see Van Buttingha at that time. Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), pp. 224-25. With 76 ‘Deeze lengte is door eene Vrouw, met zijde regard to the 1805 race, see Van Buttingha Wind, in 13 Secunden afgereden, het welk Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), pp. 177-78. eene snelheid van 36 ½ voeten in één Secunde 84 Vriesche Courant, 27 January 1809. On uitleverd, en overeenkomt met de snelheid 6 January 1809 in Groningen the prizes were van de beste Hard-dravers.’ See note 67. presented by the president of the committee. 77 Venbrux, op. cit. (note 16), p. 280. See Ommelander Courant, 13 January 1809; 78 ‘En wanneer men de gewone tred van een Oprechte Haarlemse Courant, 14 January Voetganger op 4 ½ Voeten in één Secunde 1809.

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85 ‘welke verscheidene malen kamp gereden 21 January 1809, te Liouwert op de Greft, had met voorn[oemde] Haukje [sic] Gerrits’. de Hoofdsted van het Departement Vrieslan, Vriesche Courant, 27 January 1809. Leeuwarden, Tresoar, Provinciale Bibliotheek 86 ‘zich deze eereprijzen ten spoorslag te doen van Friesland, 3206 tlbis 1809; Leeuwarden, strekken, om niet alleen in deze bevallige Tresoar, dok. Rienks, Johannes, 074.317.2.4. kunst, maar ook in andere vrouwelijke vol- This poem was mentioned in the Vriesche maaktheden en maatschappelijke deugden Courant of 27 January 1809. Van Buttingha uit te munten.’ Ommelander Courant, Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), p. 179: ‘A Frisian 13 January 1809; Oprechte Haarlemse poet composed a poem in the vernacular Courant, 14 January 1809. that was printed in red letters in the Frisian 87 Women were usually given a gold cap brooch; Dubbeltjes Almanak and this generated men a silver watch, a silver tobacco box, unusually large sales.’ (‘Een Friesche rijme- gold shoe-buckles or a silver knife hilt. laar maakte er een vers op in de landtaal 88 Van der Woude, op. cit. (note 16), p. 6. dat gedrukt werd met roode letters in den 89 For the gold cap brooch awarded to the Frieschen Dubbeltjes Almanak en deze een winner of the women’s race in Leeuwarden buitengewoon groot debiet bezorgde.’) in 1805, see Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. 97 ‘k Ried Hondert toesen di’t oonschouden’ (note 7), p. 175; Van der Woude, op. cit. (note and ‘Elk stie verwondert van di ’t zaegen/ 16), p. 8; Van Schuppen, op. cit. (note 10), Hoe dat de Fammen ’t Yys laans vlaeggen.’ p. 14 (fl. 105); Bijlsma 1999, op. cit. (note 13), For this poem, see also G.A. Wumkes, p. 18; Steendijk-Kuypers, op. cit. (note 16), Bodders yn de Fryske Striid, Bolsward 1926, p. 120 (fl. 125). The string of jet beads is p. 238; Van der Woude, op. cit. (note 16), unequivocally valued at fl 31. p. 9; Meijerman, op. cit. (note 68), p. 166, 90 Information relayed in conversation by fig.; Bijlsma 1985, op. cit. (note 13), p. 19, Willem Jan Hacquebord, 8 November 2013. fig.; Bijlsma 1999, op. cit. (note 13), p. 18. From around 1820 the organizers of skating 98 So much that they did ‘shock’ (‘schokken’) competitions responded to this by putting his ‘Vreijr Roede’ (‘vrijersroede’). Bijlsma up ‘Gouden Willems’, the nickname for 1999, op. cit. (note 13), p. 18. ducats at that time, or cash prizes of fifty to 99 ‘Men vergete niet de bedenkelijke gemeen- a hundred and fifty guilders. zaamheid en verkeering onze hupsche 91 Inventory of Houkje Gerrits Bouma, widow of Landmeisjes, wier gelaat en schoonheid Johannes Cornelis van der Schans. Bergum, deze of geenen wulpschen Stedeling bij Tietjerksteradeel, notary Gerrit Wilhelmij, den wedloop behaagde.’ Groninger Courant, 28 December 1820, Leeuwarden, Tresoar, 7 January 1809; Hofman and Otten, op. cit. access no. 26, inv. no. 12013, repertory no. 252. (note 16), p. 11. 92 See note 91. 100 ‘Schaamte verbiedt, dat onze burgerlijke 93 Groningen, Groninger Archieven, Archief Landdochters, in het openbaar, ten aanzien Gewestelijke Besturen; taken from Hofman van duizenden starogende toeschouwers and Otten, op. cit. (note 16), p. 11. uit beide seksen, alle de bovenkleederen 94 ‘aangenaam Ysvermaak’, ‘gelyk voor vier afleggen, om eene wedloop aan te vangen, jaaren’, ‘Alles liep in de beste orde af’. waarbij hare gezondheid bovendien gevaar It is clear from newspaper reports that it kan lijden, en alle bevalligheid van haar was usual to mention the orderliness of the ligchaam zich gansch ongunstig zal ver­ public, often under the supervision of the toonen.’ Vaderlandsche Letteroefeningen, police. See Furnée, op. cit. (note 16), p. 60. Amsterdam 1809, p. 89; Van Buttingha Van der Woude, op. cit. (note 16), p. 9, refers Wichers, op. cit. (note 7), pp. 179-80; to an article in the Leeuwarder Courant of Bijlsma 1999, op. cit. (note 13), 21 January 1809. However this entry cannot p. 19; Hofman and Otten, op. cit. (note 16), be found. p. 15. The critic took his name from the 95 Vriesche Courant, 27 January 1809. As far author of the book De Philantrope of as we know no copies of these lists have Menschenvriend, Amsterdam 1757. survived. With thanks to the Eerste Friese 101 ‘Wie berekent de zedelijke wanordes en Schaatsmuseum, Hindeloopen, and Ron deerlijke onheilen, die van daar voor Couwenhoven, Zaandam. derzelve ontstaan kunnen?’ Vaderlandsche 96 En ves in het boerevrys, op het reedryden Letteroefeningen, Amsterdam 1809, p. 90. van lxiv fammen, allegerre uitlaesene 102 ‘Ik noem het schaatsenrijden niet slechts een Hudrydsters, op twaa Prysen, ien gouden nuttige, in onze gewesten noodzakelijke, ier-yser en en ien Streng gittene kraalen oefening – een geoorloofd vermaak, maar mei ien gouden kroon, op de 20 en tevens een schoone en bevallige lichamelijke

184 gold for houkje gerrits bouma

kunst. … een schoon, bekoorlijk meisje, met 117 ‘dat niemand zal kunnen beweren, dat de ijs­- verwonderlijke vaardigheid, in onderschei- sport er aan gewonnen heeft, sedert die hard­- dene rigtingen en wendingen langs de baan rijderijen voor vrouwen meer in zwang komen. zien zweven en zwieren – dit levert, zonder … ’t is waar, het zijn geen salondametjes, die twijfel, een betooverend schouwspel op.’ daar over de baan vliegen in een costuum, dat Ibid., p. 211; Van der Woude, op. cit. (note niet altijd het juiste midden houdt tusschen 16), p. 11. doelmatigheid en welgevoeglijkheid, doch is 103 ‘Wat natuurlijker, dan dat men aan de beste het raadzaam de dikwijls manachtige naturen, rijdsters eenig geschenk, aan andere, die die elkander de zege betwisten, door een mede uitmunten, minder prijzen belooft en dergelijken wedstrijd in die richting verder uitdeelt, hetwelk almede, vooral wanneer die [te] emanciperen?’ Nieuwe Rotterdamsche geschenken ten deele vallen aan behoeftige Courant, February 1895; quoted from Van dienstmaagden, een aangenaam gevoel bij de der Woude, op. cit. (note 16), p. 15. gevers veroorzaakt? … Niemand vindt daarin 118 ‘Dat men zich dan vergenoege met onze iets verachtelijks, iets vernederends, iets Vriesche en Groninger Paarden om eenen onzedelijks.’ Vaderlandsche Letteroefeningen, prijs te laten harddraven maar geen paarde­ Amsterdam 1809, p. 214; Van der Woude, werk verge van onze Vrouwen, of daartoe op. cit. (note 16), p. 12. voortaan niet weder onze beminnelijke 104 Vaderlandsche Letteroefeningen, Amsterdam Landmeisjes of vlugge Schaatsrijdsters 1809, p. 91; Van Buttingha Wichers, op. cit. verlage!’ Vaderlandsche Letteroefeningen, (note 7), p. 180. Amsterdam 1809, p. 89; Van der Woude, 105 See note 91. op. cit. (note 16), p. 11. 106 Geeske Ringers died on 17 June 1808 in 119 ‘Juist daarom, Mijn Heer!’, ‘Omdat wij onze Veenwouden (Tietjerksteradeel, marie Vrouwen geen paardenwerk en onze Paarden Bergum, Huwelijkse bijlagen, 1815, no. 22). geen vrouwenwerk willen vergen, laten wij 107 Her eldest sister Tietje Gerrits Bouma onze Vrouwen op schaatsen rijden en niet (1786-1864) married Hendrik Jans van hard draven, en onze Paarden hard draven der Laan on 18 May 1806 in Veenwouden en niet op schaatsen rijden.’ Vaderlandsche (Hervormde gemeente Akkerwoude- Letteroefeningen, Amsterdam 1809, p. 221; Murmerwoude, dtb 160, 1806). Van der Woude, op. cit. (note 16), p. 12. 108 M. Koolhaas, Schaatsenrijden. Een cultuur­ 120 Ter Gouw, op. cit. (note 16), p. 597, suggested geschiedenis, Amsterdam 2010, p. 68. that short-distance racing may have been Eelkema based this drawing on one by his derived from trotting races with sleighs teacher Joannes Nicolaas Schoonbeek, which behind horses. also harks back to Baur’s work. Leeuwarden, 121 For example the first advertised speed-skating Fries Museum, inv. no. 63c-12. race of 11 January 1763, organized by the 109 R. Couwenhoven, IJspret. De strengste innkeeper Johannes Tomas in Grijpskerk winters, de mooiste avonturen, The Hague (see note 14), followed a trotting race that 1999, p. 36. See the report regarding this he initiated on 26 July 1762. He provided ban in the Leeuwarder Courant van 2 January a silver crop for the winner. See Opregte 1823; Van der Woude, op. cit. (note 16), p. 13. Groninger Courant, 16 July 1762. 110 Van der Woude, op. cit. (note 16), p. 16. 122 See note 67. 111 Ibid., p. 14; Venbrux, op. cit. (note 16), p. 286. 123 Eekhoff, op. cit. (note 7), p. 89. The owner 112 ‘Zoo meldt d’erinnering van ’t voorleden/ Hoe of the winning horse was Dirk Jeens from tweemaal in deez’ stad,/ Ook Vrouwen naar Bergum. den Eerprijs reden,/ Waarvan de nabuur zelf 124 ‘De Tekening is op dezelfde grootte als die voorheen geen denkbeeld had’. See note 9. der Schaats Rydsters, om te kunnen dienen 113 Van der Woude, op. cit. (note 16), pp. 16-19; tot een Pendant of tegenhanger’. Leeuwarder Kloek op. cit. (note 6), pp. 929-30, no. 661. Courant, 14 September 1808. She skated with Atze Geerts Atsma from 125 We know of no paintings of this subject by Terzool, still one of the best-known skaters Baur. of the nineteenth century. For him see also 126 For the provenance of the painting in the note 25. Rijksmuseum­ see Lawrence Steigrad Fine 114 Bijlsma 1999, op. cit. (note 13), p. 19. Arts: Por­traits and Recent Acquisitions, 115 Van der Woude, op. cit. (note 16), p. 22. New York 2013, cat. no. 12. I would like to Anke Beenen (1853-1886) from Langezwaag. thank Mara Lagerweij and Roosmarie Staats 116 Bijlsma 1999, op. cit. (note 13), p. 19 for their additional provenance research, (Akkrum); Venbrux, op. cit. (note 16), p. 286 which unfortunately did not reveal any (Kampen). further information.

185 the rijksmuseum bulletin

127 See note 91. in Sport to address the inequality of men 128 The Frigate ‘Rotterdam’ on the Maas off and women in the sport. For this see De Rotterdam, 1807, oil on canvas, 80 x 106 cm Waarheid, 22 September 1988; Leeuwarder (Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, inv. no. Courant, 26 September 1988. sk-a-1004, see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/ 140 The first unofficial world championships rm0001.collect.5943); The Warship for women took place in Oslo in 1933, ‘Amsterdam’ on the IJ off Amsterdam, 1807, followed by the first official championships oil on canvas, 82 x 103 cm (Amsterdam, in Stockholm in 1936. After the first all- Rijksmuseum, inv. no. sk-a-1005, see round European Championship for men http://hdl.handle.net/10934/rm0001. in Hamburg in 1891, there would be sixty- collect.5941). seven more before women were allowed, in 129 Van den Berge-Dijkstra and Ter Avest, Heerenveen in 1970. op. cit. (note 4), p. 11. 141 In 2006 Ireen Wüst won gold in the 3000 m 130 Hervormde gemeente Akkerwoude en and bronze in the 1500 m in Turin, in 2010 Murmerwoude, Veenwouden marriage gold in the 1500 m in Vancouver and in 2014 register 1755-1811, inv. no. dtb 160, 1810. in Sochi gold in the 3000 m and in the team 131 Hervormde gemeente Akkerwoude en pursuit, and silver in the 1000 m, 1500 m and Murmerwoude, Veenwouden birth register 5000 m. Ard Schenk won silver in the 1500 m 1755-1811, inv. no. dtb 159, 1811. in 1968 in Grenoble and three gold medals 132 Teunis Ybeles Veenstra died on 6 July 1812 in the 1500 m, 5000 m and 10,000 m in in Veenwouden, aged 24; Dantumadeel, Sapporo in 1972. death register 1812, p. B4; Tietjerksteradeel, 142 De Volkskrant, 23 February 2013. Bergum, marital appendices 1815, deed 22. 143 1968 Ans Schut (3000 m), 1968 Carry 133 11 November 1815 Bergum; Tietjerksteradeel, Geijssen (1000 m), 1972 Stien Kaiser Bergum, marriage register 1815, deed 22. (3000 m), 1980 Annie Borckink (1500 m), 134 Johannes Cornelis van der Schans died on 1988 Yvonne van Gennip (1500 m, 3000 m, 20 November 1820 in Bergum, aged 26; 5000 m), 1998 and 2006 Marianne Timmer Tietjerksteradeel, death register 1820, p. b22. (1000 m, 1500 m) and 2014 Jorien ter Mors 135 9 November 1822 Tietjerksteradeel; (1500 m, team pursuit), Marrit Leenstra Tietjerksteradeel, marriage register 1820, (team pursuit) and Lotte van Beek (team deed A47. Popke Binnes Vriesema died on pursuit). 21 August 1853, aged 71; Tietjerksteradeel, death register 1853, p. b42. 136 Tietjerksteradeel census, 1829, Leeuwarden, Tresoar, cbg 27 fiche. Bergumerveen, house number 10. Her children were IJble Teunis van der Veen (19), Jantje (13) and Cornelis Johannes (11) van der Schans, Binne (6), Geeske (4) and Geeltje Popkes Vriesema (1). For the family in 1839 see Tietjerksteradeel census, 1839, Leeuwarden, Tresoar, cbg 31 fiche. Geeske was already dead by then. 137 See note 91. 138 Tietjerksteradeel, death register 1857, p. b47. Her house, property, garden and farmland were sold in her son Binne Popkes Vriezema’s inn on 31 October 1857; Leeuwarder Courant, 23 October 1857. 139 The first open Dutch Championship for men took place in Slikkerveer in 1887, followed in 1901 by the official Dutch Championship under the auspices of the Koninklijke Neder- landsche Schaatsenrijders Bond, whereas the women had to wait until 1955. The Dutch Championship sprint for men started in 1969, followed by the women’s in 1983. The Houkje Gerrits sporting event was staged on 24 September 1988 in the Frieslandhal in Leeuwarden as part of the Year of Women

186 Detail of fig. 1 gold for houkje gerrits bouma

187