The most prolific poisoner of all time couldn’t possibly have been a woman. Right??! Goeie Mie, “Good Maria,” was such a selfless and kindly nurse that desperate folks in 19th-century Leiden called her when they were sick, knowing she’d come even if they couldn’t pay. But they got worse…and worse, and usually died in misery. Goeie Mie had life insurance on all of them.
Travel on location to Leiden, The Netherlands with Katie in this spooky Halloween Special! Our guest is Josine Heijnen, founder of Goeie Mie Gin.
Listen to bonus audio in the Leiden Archives with Susan Suer.
Find more information about our Lost Women of France Tour 2023 here.
All photos by Katie Nelson unless otherwise indicated
photo by Marc Nelson
Josine Heijnen holds an MA in humanities and studies history & theology – naturally she would end up having her own distillery, right? Maneuvering through the financial world right after graduating, she started distilling Goeie Mie Gin, named after Maria Swanenburg ‘the Leiden Poisoner.’ She expanded the business and now spreads these unbelievable-but-true stories in liquid form throughout Europe. (And more to come: do you know the greatest spy of all time, Mata Hari? Or ever tasted something called Radithor?)
Music featured in this episode included:
“No 8 Requiem”
Episode 105 Goeie Mie
“Horror House”
Episode 105 Goeie Mie
“Halloween Midnight”
Episode 105 Goeie Mie
“Danse Macabre””
Episode 105 Goeie Mie
“Ghost Story”
Episode 105 Goeie Mie
“Danse Macabre”
Episode 105 Goeie Mie
“Ghost Processional”
Episode 105 Goeie Mie