Grachtengordel in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Janine Wegman

— Walk of Pride Amsterdam —

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 31, 2026

1. Janine Wegman Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Janine Wegman
1925-2007
zij/haar she/her

De extravagante Rotterdamse straatartiest Janine Wegman, die trans en intersekse was, heeft hard moeten strijden om wettelijk erkend te worden als vrouw. Haar hele leven bleef zij een voorvechter van transgenderrechten.

Many Rotterdammers have fond memories of Janine Wegman, an extravagant street performer. Being trans and intersex, Janine had to fight hard for legal recognition as a woman. She remained a lifelong advocate for transgender rights.

Erected 2026 by Walk of Pride Amsterdam. (Marker Number 24.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Women. In addition, it is included in the Walk of Pride Amsterdam series list.

Location. 52° 22.408′ N, 4° 53.256′ E. Marker is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Grachtengordel. It is at the intersection of Raadhuisstraat and Herengracht, on the right when traveling west on Raadhuisstraat. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Herengracht 211D, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

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1016 DE, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Benelux Low Countries,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Max Lievendag (a few steps from this marker); Bessy Ferrera (a few steps from this marker); Edgar Caïro (a few steps from this marker); Georgina Beyer (within shouting distance of this marker); Benno Premsela (within shouting distance of this marker); Inge Intven (within shouting distance of this marker); Tania Leon (within shouting distance of this marker); Stelly Hoeben (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.

Also see . . . Janine Wegman (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

Janine Wegman (25 September 1925 – 22 February 2007) was a Dutch Hammond-organist and artist based in Rotterdam. She was one of the first Dutch people to be openly transgender.

Wegman was born as an androgynous person, and felt like a woman
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 31, 2026

2. Janine Wegman Marker - wide view
since 1960. Janine was known as the first transsexual person in Rotterdam to present in public as a woman in the late 1950s. Together with trans pioneers such as Aaïcha Bergamin, she was one of the first people in the Netherlands to openly manifest herself as transsexual. …

In 1978, Wegman managed to change the name in her passport to Johanna Maria Wegman through a lawsuit. In an attempt to get the V for Female in her passport, she showed her breasts several times at City Hall. After the first action in 1978, a civil registry officer scratched the V for Female in her passport, but this was not a legally valid change. After her second action in 1995, the registry office stated that there were no valid documents of gender reassignment, which was a prerequisite for gender reassignment on ID cards between 1985 and 2014. In 1996, after being castrated, and again appearing bare-chested at the counter and threatening with suicide, Janine Wegman was finally allowed to register as a woman at the registry office.

(Submitted on September 25, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 25, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.