HerHague: The Feminist Timeline📜
HerHague: The Timeline of Feminism is a blog series uncovering the stories of feminist pioneers and movements that shaped The Hague—from the 1900s to today.
Have someone in mind we should feature? Email us or slide into our DMs—we’d love to hear from you
Marianne Klerck-van Hogendorp
When we talk about the roots of Dutch feminism—especially in The Hague—it’s impossible to ignore the pivotal role of Marianne Klerck-van Hogendorp (1834–1909). A noblewoman turned activist, she helped shape the moral and social fabric of early Dutch feminism through her work on women’s rights, education, and public decency.
💰From Aristocracy to Activism
Born into an elite family, Klerck-van Hogendorp defied the expectations of her social class. While many women of her time remained confined to domestic life, she chose public service and moral reform. Her background gave her access to political and social circles that few women could enter at the time, and she used that privilege to amplify the voices of women across the Netherlands—particularly in The Hague.
Her commitment to social purity and moral consciousness led her to co-found the Nederlandsch Vrouwenbond tot Verhooging van het Zedelijk Bewustzijn (Dutch Women’s Union for the Increase of Moral Awareness) in 1883. Based in The Hague, this organization focused primarily on combating prostitution, advocating for equal moral standards for men and women, and empowering women to participate in public debates about ethics, sexuality, and social justice.
✊ Why Her Work Matters
Klerck-van Hogendorp’s activism marked a critical phase of first-wave feminism in the Netherlands. At a time when the feminist agenda was often limited to suffrage or education, she widened the scope to include moral autonomy, gender equality in sexual standards, and public safety for women—issues that remain relevant today.
Her influence helped shape The Hague into a city where feminist and humanitarian ideals took concrete form. Through lectures, political lobbying, and organizational leadership, she was instrumental in carving out space for women's voices in both government policy and civil society.
- Marianne Klerck-van Hogendorp | Vrouwelijke pioniers. (2019, February 22). Atria.