Born: 1741, Netherlands
Died: 14 November 1804
Country most active: Netherlands
Also known as: Agatha or Aagji
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Left parentless, she was brought up in an orphanage, and was not, properly speaking, supplied with a liberal education, yet possessed a clear mind. For some time she was the companion of an invalid, a young woman with whom she published a volume of devotional lyrics. Aagji felt impatient with Betji’s worldly way of life, but sympathized with her vigorous fight against hypocrisy and intolerance.
In 1776 a friend had introduced the two women to one another and this introduction led to a lifelong friendship, the parallel of which can be sought for in vain in the history of literature. The quiet Aagji had much that was wanting in Betji and Betji revealed another world to the poor orphan. They published, in 1782, their book Sara Burzurhart. ‘‘Not translated,” it said under the title. In those days an original Dutch novel was something out of the ordinary. It was a novel in the form of letters with a moral tendency. The characters were splendidly delineated, the heroine being the typical Dutch lower-middle class woman with her exaggerated domesticity and her kindly compassionate heart; a book for young girls. Both authoresses were concerned with educational problems and wrote about them. More epistolary novels followed, one of them in eight volumes. In these also, the authoresses fought against conventionality and also advocated tolerance and adherence to native characteristics. In 1787 they took refuge in France for political reasons. They went to Burgundy and there, in beautiful surroundings and in the company of kindred spirits, they felt very happy. Here they wrote their Letters from Burgundy and two novels that are of great interest to those who wish to understand those times. This happiness came to an end when both ladies lost their fortune. They now were forced to write and to translate to keep body and soul together; poor Betje had never before known struggle for existence. With her native humor she wrote, “I have not even time to cut my nails.” Betp was attacked by a terrible disease. Aagji nursed her with loving care until, after two years full of suffering, Betji died in 1804. Nine days later, her faithful friend followed her, ending an association of twenty-seven years.
The following is excerpted from A Cyclopædia of Female Biography, published 1857 by Groomsbridge and Sons and edited by Henry Gardiner Adams.
A Dutch authoress, born in the village of Arastelveen, near Amsterdam, on the 10th. of December, 1741. When three years old she lost her parents, and being very poor, was placed in the Amsterdam orphan asylum. Her natural abilities and industry soon distinguished her from her companions, and her early and successful efforts in poetry, procured the protection and assistance of the “Diligentiae Omnia” society. When she left the asylum, she accepted a place as companion to Miss Maria Borsh, a young lady who was herself a poetess. She lived with Miss Borsh till 1773. After the death of her friend and benefactress. Miss Dekken published a collection of poems, the result of their joint labours. She then went to Jive with another friend, Elizabeth Beeker, the widow of a clergyman. Their united labours produced the first Dutch domestic novel, and they became thus the founders of a new school of novel writers. Shortly afterwards they published the “Wanderlengen door Bougogne,” (1779.) In 1787 she removed to Paris, and had subsequently, during the reign of terror, some very narrow escapes from the guillotine. In 1790 she returned to Holland, when the dishonesty of a friend deprived her of her little property. She had now again to resort to her pen as a means of subsistence. She translated therefore several English novels, and published a collection of poems, which contains some patriotic and religious pieces, which are to this day esteemed master-pieces of Dutch poetry. She died on the 15th. of November, 1807.