Call for stories: Rotterdam women's history

ROTTERDAM, 22 August 2025 – A new heritage initiative aims to uncover overlooked stories of women in Rotterdam. Cultural institutions invite residents to help fill historical gaps.

Rotterdam institutions seek stories of women's heritage

Rotterdam’s cultural sector is turning its focus to women’s contributions to the city’s history. In September, during what has been dubbed the “Rotterdam Year of the Woman” (Jaar van de Vrouw), a group of local heritage organisations will collectively explore the legacy of women in the city’s past and present.

The initiative is a collaboration between five major institutions: Stadsarchief Rotterdam, Bibliotheek Rotterdam, Atlas van Stolk, Museum Rotterdam and the Maritiem Museum. These organisations aim to bring greater visibility to the stories, memories, and impact of women across generations.

MEETUP event to highlight women's heritage

The centrepiece of the month’s programming is the public event MEETUP: het ERFGOED van de Vrouw, which will be held on Saturday, 13 September at De Doelen. The gathering will feature personal stories from Rotterdam residents, as well as music and discussions about women’s roles in shaping the city.

This event seeks to serve as both a celebration and a conversation around Rotterdam’s female heritage (vrouwenerfgoed), raising awareness of how everyday women—from grandmothers to community organisers—have helped shape life in the city.

Addressing the gender imbalance in archives

Many archives and exhibitions have historically centred men’s experiences, leaving the lives and work of women underrepresented. The participating institutions hope to redress this imbalance by inviting contributions from the public.

Rotterdam residents are encouraged to share stories, photos, documents or objects connected to women who have made a difference in the city—whether in healthcare, education, activism, the arts, or domestic life.

Call for contributions, open until 1 September

Contributions may be submitted online via the official website until 1 September 2025: www.vrouwenvanrotterdam.nl/erfgoed. Each participating institution has outlined the types of submissions they are seeking, and if appropriate, contributions may be permanently added to their collections.

Even if submissions are not included in a physical collection, they may still be featured digitally through the same platform.

Event location and directions

De Doelen, the event venue, is centrally located near Rotterdam Centraal station. The area is well-served by public transport, including metro, tram and bus lines. Visitors arriving by train can reach the venue within a few minutes on foot from the station’s main entrance.