We often hear about history’s various Golden Ages, but what about when good times were over? Maria van Nispen, a bricklayer’s daughter, came of age during the Dutch “Disaster Year,” 1672. Justice, stability, even the Republic itself seemed lost.
If you can’t change the world, change yourself…
Travel with Katie to Leiden archives to unearth this remarkable tale with guest Susan Suer.
Check out this 360 view of the Leiden Prison today.
photo by Marc Nelson
photo by Katie Nelson
photo by Katie Nelson
photo by Korrie Korevaart
Susan Suèr is an art historian and public historian. She works as an education manager at Heritage Leiden which holds the old city archives. As part of her work Susan gets to see a lot of archival records, and she was instantly fascinated by the 18th century criminal archives of confessions and verdicts. She is currently writing a novel about the female jailor Maria van Nispen.Music featured in this episode included:
Jimena Contreras : “The Devil’s Organ”
Doug Maxwell: “Invitation to the castle Ball”
Sir Cubworth: Harpsichord Fugue
Bach’s “C Major Prelude”
Emmit Fenn: Allegro
Wahneta Meixsell: Allemande
Hanu Dixit: Requiem in Cello