Trijn Leemput trekt met Utrechtse vrouwen op om slot Vredenburg te slechten, februari 1577 1780 - 1795

Jacobus Buys created this drawing, “Trijn Leemput leads women from Utrecht to demolish Vredenburg Castle, February 1577” without a set date. It captures a pivotal moment during the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. Buys transports us to that moment, when Trijn Leemput, a working-class woman, galvanized the women of Utrecht to dismantle the Vredenburg Castle, a symbol of Spanish oppression. Armed with brooms, axes, and sheer determination, these women took direct action, challenging not only the Spanish authorities but also the patriarchal norms of their own society. It's an image of female agency, class solidarity, and collective resistance. Here, Buys commemorates a moment when women stepped outside their traditional roles and became agents of historical change. "Revolutionary" is a strong word, but can we deny the courage and conviction of these women? They dared to reshape their world, one brick at a time.