From September 19, 2026, through April 4, 2027, the Zandvoort Museum will host the exhibition “Women of Zandvoort.” Who were the women who helped shape Zandvoort over the centuries? We may recognize their faces, but their stories have often been lost.
The exhibition begins with the portrait *Zandvoortse Vrouw* (1884) by Thérèse Schwartze. Who is the woman in this famous painting? Was she really a fisherman’s wife from Zandvoort, or do we mainly see the image that artists of that time had of the coastal population?
One special section focuses on the fishmongers of Zandvoort. They bought fish on the beach, carried heavy baskets, and walked to Haarlem to sell the catch. While their husbands were at sea, they earned a significant portion of the family’s income. We know the faces of some of these women, but not their names or life stories. Paintings, photographs, postcards, and archival documents show just how important their work was—and how much history has been lost.
Julia Bos, a graduate of the Reinwardt Academy in Amsterdam, conducted research on the fisherwomen of Zandvoort. During her research, she delved into archives and museum collections. In this way, she is bringing forgotten stories of Zandvoort’s women back into the spotlight.
The portrait series *Byctach by photographer Ursula van de Bunte forms a unique connection between the past and the present. She portrays women from Zandvoort across different generations and shares their personal stories. The series is inspired by the paintings of Thérèse Schwartze, particularly her portrait of the “Zandvoort woman.”
While an old photograph sometimes shows only an unfamiliar face, at Bijvangst we get to know the woman behind the portrait. Her life, memories, and experiences are given a place in the history of Zandvoort.
“Women of Zandvoort ” reveals the many stories hidden behind familiar faces. An exhibition that looks back on forgotten lives, but also showcases the women who are continuing to write Zandvoort’s story today.