Bureau of discrimination cases argues for more female street names: ‘Preferably of Zaanse women’

In Zaanstad, only one in five street names is named after a woman. In Wormerland it is even worse, because there you only have Mariastraat. That is why the Bureau for Discrimination Affairs Zaanstreek Waterland advocates naming new street names after a woman of fame.

“As far as I know, Maria has never been to Wormerland,” says Eric Schaap, coordinator of the Bureau for Discrimination Affairs Zaanstreek Waterland, who has sent a letter to the municipal councils for more female recognition on the street.

Local heroines

Zaanstad still seems to score well, but it is mainly women with national fame after whom the streets are named. “The Marga Klompéstraat, named after the first female minister”, says Schaap, “the VVD prominent Haya van Soomeren or the free-spirited Mina Kruseman.” The feminist movement Dolle Mina was named after the latter.

But no street bears the name of a local heroine born and bred in the region. And according to Schaap, they do exist. He calls the writer Carry van Bruggen: “Her brother, also a writer, Jacob Israël de Haan, will soon get a street.” But also the well-known regional novelist Jos van Manen Pieters, born in Zaandam, Marijke Höweler from Koog aan de Zaan or the recently deceased actress Truus Dekker.

Erased from history

These are just a few examples, but according to Nada Temelkov, who mapped the data on street names as a student, it is important that the names of women end up on street name signs. “Because otherwise it seems as if they are being erased from history. With those references you show what women have achieved and what women can achieve.”

Male-female ratio in the naming of streets

Man Woman
Zaanstad 79.1% 20.9%
Purmerend 84.9% 15.1%
Wormerland 94.8% 5.2%
Oostzaan 94.8% 5.2%

With their plea for more female street names, Schaap and Temelkov do not want current street names to be replaced. Schaap: “You should stay away from that. It concerns streets in new neighbourhoods, I think you can bring more diversity there and give women a prominent place.” And also a lot of bridges that don’t have a name yet. Politicians have not yet responded to the proposal. “It has only just been sent and it is still a lot of vacation. So that will come.”

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