From 30 June–31 August 2025 | – A new outdoor photo exhibition along the Maastunnel highlights the lives of 40 Rotterdam women who have played a defining role in the city’s development. The display captures a wide timeline, ranging from the 16th century to the present day.
Photo credit: Lotte van Eijk Bete Photography
Photo exhibition honours influential Rotterdam women
An exhibition presented by Museum Rotterdam and Stadsarchief Rotterdam is set to open on 30 June 2025, featuring portraits of forty women who have significantly shaped the cultural, political, and social fabric of Rotterdam. The exhibition, titled Rotterdamse vrouwen die het hebben gemaakt (Rotterdam women who made it), will be installed along the iconic escalators of the Maastunnel.
The display includes a curated selection of both historic and contemporary figures, whose stories are presented through portraits accompanied by brief biographies. Each woman’s narrative explores the motivations behind her work and the challenges she encountered.
A timeline from 1539 to now
The exhibition opens with the story of Anneke Jans, who was executed in Rotterdam in 1539 for her religious beliefs. The most recent figure featured is Lotte van Eijk, a contemporary influencer and designer known for her advocacy around body positivity. Between these two women, visitors are introduced to an array of figures such as:
- Peggy Wijntuin, recognised for her work in raising awareness of slavery’s legacy.
- Olympian Rie Mastenbroek.
- Feminist pioneer Maria Rutgers-Hoitsema.
- Sculptor Loeki Metz.
- Activist Grarda Pelger.
Their contributions reflect diverse backgrounds and fields of influence, united by a common thread of persistence and autonomy.
Left: Lotte Stam-Beese, photo by Fototechnische Dienst, Stadsarchief Rotterdam. Right: Hermine Emerentia Hollert, portrait by Cornelis Cels, photo courtesy of RKD
A joint initiative
The exhibition has been developed as a collaboration between Museum Rotterdam and Stadsarchief Rotterdam. Both institutions have contributed archival material, objects and personal testimonies. In several cases, images were provided directly by the women featured or their families. Visitors can read the biographies on the museum’s website, and a companion booklet will also be available.
The presentation seeks not only to honour these forty women, but also to prompt reflection on the many untold stories of others who have left their mark on Rotterdam.
Part of Rotterdam’s Year of the Woman
The exhibition forms part of 2025 | Het Rotterdamse Jaar van de Vrouw (Rotterdam’s Year of the Woman), a city-wide initiative commemorating fifty years since the United Nations declared 1975 the International Women’s Year. The thematic year aims to reflect on progress made in women’s emancipation in Rotterdam and the challenges that remain.
Further details can be found at www.vrouwenvanrotterdam.nl and www.museumrotterdam.nl.
Directions to the Maastunnel exhibition
The portraits are displayed along the escalators of the historic Maastunnel, which connects the north and south banks of the city beneath the Nieuwe Maas. The entrance on the north side is located near Parklaan and the entrance on the south side can be found near the Charloisse Hoofd. The area is easily accessible by bicycle, on foot, or via public transport.
