Aletta Jacobs to receive statue in central The Hague

A statue honoring Aletta Jacobs, the first woman to officially study at a Dutch university, will be erected at the Wijnhaven in central The Hague. The location is situated near the Leiden University campus and has been described by Alderman Lotte van Basten Batenburg as a “passende locatie” (fitting location).

The unveiling is scheduled to take place by the end of 2028, ahead of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Jacobs' death on August 10, 2029. The project, which has been in development for several years, was originally initiated in 2017 by former Speaker of the House Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven. While the Hofvijver was initially considered, officials determined the scale and appearance of the statue would not align with the green character of that area.

Aletta Jacobs, who graduated from the University of Groningen in 1878, was the first female physician in the Netherlands. She was also a co-founder and chair of the Association for Women's Suffrage, successfully campaigning for women's right to vote. She is featured in the Canon of the Netherlands.