Ode to Truus Wijsmuller-Meijer | Liefhebbende moeder of daadkrachtige heldin?

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In our intervention, we investigate how gender stereotyping in remembrance culture influences the perceived character of female heroines such as Wijsmuller, and we aim to question this by mirroring this resistance heroine against her male counterparts. We aim to raise awareness of how gender plays a role in remembrance culture and to critically reflect on the way in which female resistance fighters are reduced to caring figures.
 

The starting point was the model for the statue of resistance fighter Truus Wijsmuller in Alkmaar (fig. 1). During the Second World War, Truus Wijsmuller saved around 10,000 Jewish children through the Kindertransports. Her heroic deeds have made her a national heroine. In the statue, she is surrounded by 28 children and looks down with a caring and humble expression. The title does not describe her as a resistance heroine, but as 'Mother of 1001 children'. The statue initially draws attention to Wijsmuller as a loving mother and only secondarily as a heroic individual.

Intervention
 

Our intervention takes place on the Walter Süskind Bridge in Amsterdam, a symbolic location associated with the Kindertransports and the resistance movement. By contrasting the representation of Truus Wijsmuller with that of a male resistance hero, Walter Süskind, we want to challenge people to think critically about how gender norms influence our perceptions. Walter Süskind used his position in the Hollandsche Schouwburg to save hundreds of Jewish children. He is regarded as a diplomat and resistance hero. Although Wijsmuller's actions and strategic courage are certainly comparable, she is hardly described as an insightful diplomat, but only as a warm-hearted mother. In this case, the construction of memories is inextricably linked to their gender and the stereotypical gender characteristics constructed by patriarchal society.

The intervention consists of two actions. First, we attach a plaque to the bridge that reverses gender norms. The inscription reads: 'Uncle Walter, father of 101 children. Walter Süskind. 1906-1945' (fig. 2). By emphasizing Süskind's fatherhood rather than his actions as a resistance hero, we highlight the discomfort of gender patterns in patriarchal society. The new description on the Süskind bridge feels unnatural, whereas a similar text accompanying the statue of Truus is never questioned.

Secondly, we reveal a design for two new statues that contrast the gender aspects of hero worship on a visual level. To this end, we first designed a hypothetical statue of Walter Süskind as a loving father figure holding the hands of two small children (fig. 3). In the statue design for the new fictional image of Truus Wijsmuller, she is depicted in work clothes and in a proud and dignified posture, as is often the case with her male counterparts. The Süskind statue now emphasizes parenthood, while the Wijsmuller statue depicts her heroism and bravery. In our opinion, the statue of Truus should be placed in front of City Hall because she worked for the Amsterdam city council after the war. The mayor of Amsterdam always took a detour when he saw her coming, afraid of her powerful presence.

Explanation:

Journalist Patrick Moershoek argues in Het Parool that statues of important men usually emphasize intellect, decisiveness, or heroism, while statues of women emphasize loveliness, motherliness, or beauty. Moreover, statues of men usually focus on the individual, while statues of women often emphasize universal values such as beauty, fertility, and motherliness.

The veneration of Wijsmuller as a mother, rather than a heroine with decisiveness, fits entirely within the traditional Western discourse on male and female heroes. Carol Pearson and Katherine Pope are researching the role of gender in the formation of heroes in literature and argue that 'the heroine' hardly exists in classical Western literature. Heroism is reserved for men, except when it comes to protecting children.

Truus Wijsmuller played a crucial role in the Dutch resistance during the Second World War. Her nickname – Aunt Truus – emphasises her maternal and caring qualities. At the same time, her negotiations with Adolf Eichmann, a key figure in the Holocaust, demonstrate her strategic insight and courage. Eichmann coordinated the deportation of millions of Jews to concentration camps. The fact that Wijsmuller contacted him illustrates her strategic insight and the enormous risks she took. Not a mother, but a true resistance hero.

In short, by mirroring terms and images, we reveal how female resistance fighters such as Truus Wijsmuller are reduced to caring figures, while their strategic courage and leadership remain underexposed. Our intervention invites the public to reflect on how gender norms influence the culture of remembrance, and we hope that this reflection will contribute to a more inclusive culture of remembrance in which the achievements of all heroes, regardless of gender, will be valued equally.