E. M. Valk-Heijnsdijk
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24 June 1867
E. M. Valk-Heijnsdijk | |
|---|---|
| Born | Elisabeth Martha Heijnsdijk 24 June 1867 Axel, Netherlands |
| Died | 7 March 1945 (aged 77) Voorburg, Netherlands |
| Other names | Elisabeth van der Molen-Heijnsdijk |
| Occupations | Cookbook writer, restaurateur |
| Known for | Early promotion of vegetarianism in the Netherlands |
| Notable work | De Vegetariërs Keuken ("The Vegetarian's Kitchen"; 1896) |
| Spouses | Pieter van der Molen
(m. 1887; died 1896)Michiel Valk (m. 1901) |
Elisabeth Martha Valk-Heijnsdijk (born Elisabeth Martha Heijnsdijk; 24 June 1867 – 7 March 1945), also known by her earlier married name Elisabeth van der Molen-Heijnsdijk, was a Dutch cookbook author and restaurateur. She was a prominent early advocate of vegetarianism in the Netherlands and played a key role in the development of vegetarian cuisine in the country. Valk-Heijnsdijk managed Pomona, in The Hague, one of the Netherlands' first vegetarian restaurants and authored several of its earliest vegetarian cookbooks, including De Vegetariërs Keuken ("The Vegetarian's Kitchen; 1896).
Early and personal life
Elisabeth Martha Heijnsdijk was born on 24 June 1867 in Axel, Netherlands, to Jan Heijnsdijk and Janna Heijnsdijk (née Baak).[1] She married Pieter van der Molen (1861–1896) in Axel on 25 August 1887,[2] adopting the surname Van der Molen-Heijnsdijk.[3]
Vegetarianism
Van der Molen-Heijnsdijk adopted a vegetarian diet primarily for health reasons. After both she and her husband experienced illness, including tuberculosis, they moved to Scheveningen seeking a healthier environment. Following her husband's death, she gradually transitioned to vegetarianism, which she credited with significantly improving her health.[4]
Career
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The Dutch Vegetarian Association was founded in 1894. Marie Jungius, an active member, feminist, socialist, and trade unionist, advocated for a more just society for both humans and animals. She considered vegetarianism a key component of this ethical vision.[5]
Jungius proposed the establishment of a women-run vegetarian restaurant. Van der Molen-Heijnsdijk, who had experience working at the Pomona vegetarian restaurant in Leipzig, was chosen to manage the project. After marrying Michiel Valk in 1901, adopting the surname Valk-Heijnsdijk, the couple opened a vegetarian restaurant in The Hague, also named Pomona. The original Pomona restaurant, founded in 1899, was followed by a new location in 1912, which was later converted into the Parkhotel Den Haag in 1949.[6]
Valk-Heijnsdijk authored several cookbooks for the Dutch Vegetarian Association. Her works included De Vegetarische Keuken ("The Vegetarian's Kitchen"; first published in 1896, with multiple editions), Stuivers kookboek ("Penny Cookbook"; 1898), and Drie-stuivers kookboek ("Three-Penny Cookbook"; 1919). These publications are recognized as the earliest vegetarian cookbooks produced in the Netherlands.[3] De Vegetarische Keuken is still in print.[7]
Death and legacy
Valk-Heijnsdijk died on 7 March 1945 in Voorburg.[8]
In July 2024, a bridge in The Hague was named the Valk-Heijnsdijk Bridge in recognition of Valk-Heijnsdijk's role in the history of vegetarianism in the Netherlands. The naming followed a proposal by residents and the Party for the Animals. The bridge is located in a neighborhood where streets are named after female writers and feminists, and the initiative forms part of a broader municipal effort to increase the representation of women in public spaces.[9]
