Kenau in a city full of mosquitoes

When someone is called a kenau, it is usually not meant as a compliment. It means something along the lines of bossy woman. But that does the Haarlem namesake a disservice. When our city was besieged by the Spaniards during the Eighty Years' War between December 1572 and July 1573, the city was completely cut off from the outside world. No one could enter or leave, and no food entered the city. That did not stop the people of Haarlem from defending their city with heart and soul. And Kenau was one of them. The stories that went around about her grew stronger and stronger. What is true of all these stories is not known. But it is known that she fought and that friend and foe alike were impressed by her courage. Even today, there is even a theater company that incorporates Kenau into its name. Theater group Club Kenau gives performances every summer on the square in front of Haarlem's Stadsschouwburg. The last performance was about two Haarlem ice cream parlors, the first about Kenau. Rightly so, because she was, according to the stories, truly a heroine.

And she was also a mosquito, by the way. Just like all other Haarlemmers then and all 167,000 Haarlemmers now, because mosquito is our nickname. Where exactly it comes from is not entirely clear, but it probably dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries. In those days it was a swear word and Haarlemmers were called that because the city, partly because of the river, had a lot of trouble with mosquitoes. Another explanation is that Haarlemmers can be a bit of mosquito sifters. But that's nonsense. What they are, everyone must decide for themselves. We can't say. What we can say is that the qualifier "courageous" should definitely be in the list.

Because besides Kenau, Haarlem has produced more heroines. Like Corrie ten Boom, a resistance hero who, together with her father and sister, built a secret room in their house and offered shelter there to people fleeing the Nazis. An extraordinary story told in an impressive way in the Corrie ten Boom House, which is now a museum. Another special and heroic story is that of Hannie Schaft. One of the most famous resistance fighters of the Netherlands, who was shot dead in the dunes near Bloemendaal just before the end of World War II. She is remembered every year in, how could it be otherwise, the Kenaupark commemorated.

While you're there

In addition to Club Kenau's performances, there is much more to see in the city. In theaters such as Theater De Liefde and PHIL. In our Uitagenda everything is listed for you. And if you go to the theater (or walk through Haarlem for any reason), take a walk to the Barteljorisstraat. Here is a statue of Malle Babbe. Singer Rob de Nijs once sang about this Haarlem native. That song in turn was written by Lennaert Nijgh, also a Haarlemmer. Nice detail: Lennaert Nijgh drew inspiration for the song from a painting by Frans Hals. But by the wrong painting. You can find out exactly what happened during the Frans Hals walk, available at the VVV.

More stories

Crusade with green soap

For this story, we'll take you back to the early 13th century. The time of the Fifth Crusade, which lasted from 1217 to 1221, especially the conquest of Damiate, an Egyptian port city. The people of Haarlem played an important role in the conquest of this city.

On 33 rpm to an hour of Mozart

In recent years, just about every self-respecting band has been releasing new music on vinyl. So you could say that vinyl is back on the scene. That's not true of Haarlem.

Scoring with Eef, Cajanus and Loutje

Anyone who watched the Olympic final 3x3 basketball can remember the last second of the game.

Squabbling painters on a royal soccer field

You undoubtedly know Frans Hals, but at the time there was another great living in Haarlem. Who? Judith Leyster. An artistic and enterprising woman.

The first train to streets of gold

Haarlem was often the first. Examples? The first museum, the first newspaper, the first liberation festival. But more on this another time. Now we want to talk about the first railroad. It was festively opened on September 20, 1839.

Cocktails with a loose touch

Back for a moment to the end of the 16th century. From the Southern Netherlands many people came to our city. Among them the Hals family, consisting of father François, mother Adriana and their sons Joost, Dirck and Frans.

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