Jip van den Toorn to deliver the 2026 Arondéus Lecture

Illustrator and cartoonist Jip van den Toorn will deliver the Willem Arondéus Lecture on May 7, 2026, on behalf of the Provincial Council of North Holland. In the Great or St. Bavo Church in Haarlem, she will speak on the theme of freedom. The annual lecture is a tribute to resistance fighter Willem Arondéus. Admission is free, and the lecture can also be viewed live via NH Nieuws and the province’s YouTube channel.

With her sharp and humorous illustrations, Jip van den Toorn addresses social issues. Her work sparks conversations about themes such as freedom, identity, and societal relationships. By selecting Van den Toorn, the Provincial Council has chosen a contemporary speaker who resonates with multiple generations.

Van den Toorn says: “What are we outraged about these days? And what are we doing about it? As a tribute to Arondéus, I think it would be fitting to reflect on this together. To me, freedom means being able to create something you’re passionate about and having the opportunity to take action.”

Van den Toorn’s work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, and online. She has participated in *De slimste mens* and *Wie is de Mol?*, and has given multiple Freedom Lectures. This national initiative brings writers, artists, and thinkers into conversation with young people about freedom and democracy. Van den Toorn has received numerous awards for her work, including the international World Illustration Award in 2018, the Fiep Westendorp Stimulation Prize in 2019, and the Inkspot Prize for Best Political Cartoon of the Year in 2022.

Lecture at the Great or St. Bavo Church in Haarlem

The Arondéus Lecture will take place in the Great or St. Bavo Church in Haarlem. The church opens at 7:15 PM, and the lecture begins at 8:00 PM. Admission is free.

The Provincial Council has organized the Arondéus Lecture since 2005. Previous speakers include Natascha van Weezel, Hanneke Groenteman, Peter van Uhm, and Nazmiye Oral. Speakers are free to shape their own lecture.

Available to watch on TV

NH Nieuws will broadcast the lecture live on television. Everyone can also watch or rewatch the lecture via the YouTube channel of the Province of North Holland. A sign language interpreter will be present to translate the lecture for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Willem Arondéus

Willem Arondéus (1894–1943) was courageous and unconventional. At a young age, he openly embraced his homosexuality, which was unusual and daring at the beginning of the last century. Arondéus was a visual artist and writer. Tapestries of his design hang in the Provincial Council Chamber of the provincial government building in Haarlem.

March 27: Attack on the Amsterdam Population Register

Willem Arondéus led the resistance group that carried out the attack on the Amsterdam Population Register 83 years ago. On the night of March 27, 1943, the group set fire to the administration using explosives to prevent the occupiers from tracking down Jews and people in hiding. The occupiers subsequently arrested nearly all those involved. On July 1, 1943, twelve resistance fighters, including Arondéus, were executed by firing squad in the dunes near Overveen.

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