She married shipbuilder Nanning Gerbrantsz Borst at the age of 18. Following her husband’s death, she took over the running of the family owned shipyard. When Spanish troops laid siege to Haarlem in 1573, Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer took up arms. During the Siege of Haarlem she led a group of women to defend the city. A lack of detailed records meant tall stories about this woman with a warrior spirit soon started circulating. She was described as ‘the bravest of them all, tormenting the enemy relentlessly’, and tribute was paid to her in several portraits. With time she became a symbol of heroism.
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