When the Rijksmuseum first opened its doors in 1885, it was designed as a temple to Dutch identity, art, and history. The museum’s architect, Pierre Cuypers, was a man; its directors were men; and the artworks on display were almost exclusively made by the Great (male) Masters of art history. For a long time, it felt as if there were no women in Dutch art history. Today, that is finally changing. In 2021, the Rijksmuseum launched the “Women of the Rijksmuseum” project to correct this historical imbalance. From the Middle Ages to the modern era, keep on reading to meet the women who shaped the Dutch soul.