Skating competition for women on the Stadsgracht in Leeuwarden, 21 January 1809, Nicolaas Baur, 1809 In 1809, a hard-skating competition for women was held in Leeuwarden. In front of a packed audience, sixty-four unmarried women competed for the grand prize, a golden oorijzer. The winner was Houkje Gerrits Bouma. For more freedom of movement, the skaters had thrown off their cloaks. Baur painted the finalists with their bare arms, a cast-off cloak on the ice. The thinly veiled clothing caused a stir and therefore it was the last women's competition for the time being. Rijksmuseum Rights: CC0
