Ode to Els Kloek | Women in the spotlight

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I am writing an ode to Els Kloek. She has been writing about the role of women in history since the 1970s. At a time when this subject was still easily pushed aside. You can read this aptly in her personal book “Women and Children First”, in which, among other things, she gives her thoughts and considerations on whether or not to include a woman in her unsurpassed books 1001 Women and 1001 Women in the 20th century.

These books form the basis of the tours and lectures I have been giving since 2013. A year earlier was my start as a guide because I find it so cool to share my enthusiasm and knowledge about the city in front of a group of people. Soon the request came for a tour to specifically focus on women. This first tour was noticed online by a contact of Els Kloek. She asked me to put together a tour specially tailored to the first exhibition in 2013. Over the years, I developed the first lecture based entirely on the book 1001 Women. Several tours followed, also outside Amsterdam, and lectures for which the books remained an important source of information.

The 1001 Women books are about women who have been exceptional in one way or another. Els' book Woman of the Household cast a completely different light on Dutch housewives. This group of, at first sight, average women was also put in the picture by her. In 2018, there was the second exhibition on the book 1001 Women in the 20th century at the Amsterdam Museum, where, after the exhibition ended, large portraits of many wonderful women were given away.

Els Kloek's books have been so important for sharing history about many women. This wonderful exhibition stands on her shoulders, among others. I am grateful to Els for all the work she has done.