Hanze students join forces with the new feminist Dolle Mina movement

The Dolle Mina’s (‘Mad Mina’s’) are back. Fighting for women’s rights and against femicide. Hanze students Lena and Deswinta are taking part. ‘Yes, equal rights, yes, equal opportunities… but above all: safety!’

‘I’ve never really been a social butterfly, but the murder of Lisa triggered something in me. If I believe things need to change, then I also have to take action,’ says Lena Schoonbeek (20). The third-year student of Medical Imaging & Radiotherapy Technologies came across a call from the Dolle Mina’s on Instagram by chance. ‘What happened to Lisa stayed with me. It made me start thinking about women’s safety,’ Lena says. ‘It gets dark early, and tunnels and unlit paths are frightening. On top of that, I kept hearing more and more stories from fellow students, so I decided to join the Dolle Mina’s.’

‘I was never involved in feminism, but when I became a mother, I started to think’

The feminist action group Dolle Mina, comparable to the international Women’s Lib movement, emerged in the late 1960s. The original Dolle Mina’s rebelled against unequal rights and became known for their sharp, playful actions: from demonstrations for abortion rights (‘My body, my choice’) to protests against the lack of public toilets for women. The first generation focused mainly on equal rights and access to abortion, contraception and safety. Today’s movement addresses broader issues such as femicide and international solidarity. Yet many things remain the same: the current group also has no formal leadership structure, and anyone is free to join.

The present-day Dolle Mina’s appeal to a diverse group of people. ‘I was never involved in feminism. But when I became a mother, I started to reflect. Why is it that I do more at home?’ says Deswinta Blelis (40). For the recently graduated primary education student, the murder of Lisa marked a turning point. ‘That was the moment I thought: something has to happen. Yes, equal rights, yes, equal opportunities… but above all: safety!’ Deswinta sees how transgressive behaviour has slowly become normalised. ‘I don’t know a single woman who has never experienced something. Not one. Someone grabbing you, or making an inappropriate remark. It has become so normal that women feel ashamed, or think it’s just something they have to accept.’

‘We should have intervened: what are you actually saying? Do you even understand what you’re saying?’

To challenge this norm, the Dolle Mina’s give guest lessons at secondary schools, among other things. ‘I asked pupils who shares their location when they are on their way home. Every single girl raised her hand. The boys don’t even think about it. That says so much!’ This became painfully clear during a march through Leeuwarden. Deswinta recalls: ‘A group of boys on bicycles rode straight through us and intimidated us. One of them shouted: “I hate women!”’ In hindsight, she feels they should have acted differently. ‘We ignored them, but really we should have stopped the entire group. Turned the music off and stood around him together. What are you actually saying? Do you even understand what you’re saying?’

Lena is active in several Dolle Mina working groups. ‘The atmosphere is incredibly inspiring. Sometimes we have a group chat, and discussions or conversations emerge about everything that concerns us.’ She has found her place within the group. ‘The sense of togetherness is really comforting, and my social circle has grown. I’ve made friends there, we have lunch together at the Forum or do something fun. You meet people you would never have spoken to otherwise.’

‘You can install streetlights along a scary cycle path, but who does that actually address? The perpetrators?’

Deswinta believes it is important that the Dolle Mina’s also pay attention to issues beyond the Netherlands. ‘We are more intersectional than the first generation. It’s not just about white Dutch women, but about anyone who experiences inequality. That’s why, during protests, we also give a platform to women from Sudan, Somalia and Iraq.’

The Dolle Mina’s do more than raise their voices; they also contribute to policy discussions. ‘We talk to the municipality about making public spaces safer,’ Deswinta says. Still, she believes that real change has to come from society itself. ‘You can install streetlights along a frightening cycle path, but who does that actually address? The perpetrators? You also need a cultural shift. Women should be able to cycle safely, regardless of whether it’s light or dark.’

At Hanze, Lena is setting up a listening point. ‘A place where women can share their stories in an accessible way. You’re not talking to a lecturer or a psychologist, but to a fellow student. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone who leads a similar life.’

The Dolle Mina’s are already looking ahead to 2026. ‘Change is slow. But by continuing to talk, to share and to stand up, we keep putting these issues on the agenda,’ says Deswinta. Lena sees that their actions are resonating. ‘Groningen is a progressive student city. Many young people understand why we do this. And the number of new sign-ups just keeps growing.’ Something has to change. Lena concludes: ‘We hope students learn to look out for one another. Just ask: are things okay at home? If you sense or notice something, act on it.’

Photos: Deswinta Blelis (cover) and Lena Schoonbeek (in text). Photographer: Gabija Domarkaitė.