ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the person of Jacoba van den Brande (1735–1794) and the important role she played as first director of the Natuurkundig Genootschap der Dames, or Women’s Society for Natural Knowledge, in Middelburg. This was a scientific society established by and for women in the eighteenth century, and this chapter examines the topics of the meetings of the Society and the women that participated, their interests and their practical pursuit of knowledge through many branches of physical sciences, from electricity to astronomy. As well as reflecting Dutch Enlightenment ideals, the chapter details the contributions made by the female members to the scholarly, scientific and art collections of the Society. It examines the women’s collections of books, scientific instruments and naturalia within the social fabric of Middelburg society.
