Grachtengordel in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Anna Blaman

— Walk of Pride Amsterdam —

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 31, 2026

1. Anna Blaman Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Anna Blaman
1905-1960
zij/haar she/her

De Rotterdamse schrijfster en dramaturg Anna Blaman is met haar openhartige schrijven over haar leven en lesbische identiteit een onvergetelijke naam geworden binnen de Nederlandse literatuur en voor de emancipatie van lesbiennes.

Rotterdam writer and dramatist Anna Blaman became a household name by writing candidly about her own life as a lesbian. In doing so, she made a major contribution to Dutch literature and lesbian emancipation in the Netherlands.

Erected 2026 by Walk of Pride Amsterdam. (Marker Number 31.)

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

Location. 52° 22.415′ N, 4° 53.196′ E. Marker is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Grachtengordel. It is on Raadhuisstraat west of Herengracht, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Raadhuisstraat 32, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1016 DG,

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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: Andreas Burnier (here, next to this marker); Betty Paërl (a few steps from this marker); Albert Mol (a few steps from this marker); Brenda Howard (a few steps from this marker); Marielle Franco (within shouting distance of this marker); Benno Premsela (within shouting distance of this marker); Miriam van der Have (within shouting distance of this marker); Herculine Barbin (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.

Also see . . . Anna Blaman (Walk of Pride Amsterdam). Excerpt:

In real life Anna did not conceal her lesbian orientation at all: she had brief affairs with women, she often wore trousers, and she rode a motorcycle, which was unusual for women at that time. Together with her friends she was a regular customer
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at Bet van Beeren’s Café ’t Mandje in Amsterdam.

By expressing herself in ways that were considered inappropriate for women in the 1950s, she inspired women to free themselves. Women in that period were not expected to have sexual feelings, let alone to show them, or to write about them. It was already hard enough for women to build an economically independent life at that time, let alone to create a life together with another woman—if such an idea even occurred to them.

Perhaps her greatest achievements are that she presented herself as she was and wrote about homosexuality as something just as self-evident as heterosexuality Nearly all her novels and stories have homosexual and lesbian characters who are not ashamed about their sexual identity and do not beg for acceptance or understanding. Through her self-confidence and the openness with which she lived her homosexuality, she serves as a courageous and pioneering lesbian role model.

(Submitted on October 3, 2026.)

Additional keywords. tegel

Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on October 3, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.