Dressed in white dresses and with large, spooky dolls, Dolle Mina Drenthe walks through the streets of Coevorden today. The feminist action group draws attention to violence against women with a Witte Wieven march.
According to the Dolle Mina’s, violence against women and gender-diverse people is still a major problem. They also believe that the Dutch government is failing to comply with the Istanbul Treaty. The aim of the treaty is to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. “As long as we as women are not safe, or not as safe as men, it is important to continue to draw attention to this,” says Colien Schaap of Dolle Mina Drenthe.
The Drenthe Dolle Mina’s are therefore organizing a lecture this weekend about the treaty and what it requires, followed by a march through the center of the fortified city. During the tour, theater will be performed and a story about the Witte Wieven will be recited. “We will all dress up as Witte Wieven and hope to draw attention to this important subject.”
The choice to dress as Witte Wieven is no coincidence. In this case, De Witte Wieven does not refer to the Drenthe legends, but to the women on whom these stories are probably based. “There are stories that the Witte Wieven were midwives, they would also help bring in the grain and they gave wise advice,” Schaap explains. “These women, just like the witches, have been reviled. What we came to see as witches were actually idiosyncratic women,” says Schaap.
By dressing up as Witte Wieven, the Dolle Mina’s not only try to honor these women, but also make passers-by think. “What should you do as a woman if you are in a dangerous situation? Where should you go?” says Schaap. “We want action and policy to address this.” According to Schaap, the main question is: How do you ensure that the next generation grows up without violence, and without gender-based violence?”