Toen ik in de Purmer kwam wonen kwamen een aantal dingen samen. Het wonen in de natuur – met zwanen en weidevogels als vorige bewoners (inmiddels wonen we hier samen met de zwanen) – in een volledig houten huis met zelf opgewekte stroom, maakte me er extra bewust van om goed voor de natuur te zorgen. Ik besloot om meer zelf te maken. We hebben een moestuin aangelegd, we maken onze eigen compost voor in de tuin door alle mest van onze mini-ezels te verzamelen en te composteren en ik begon zelf zeep te maken om ons plastic afval te verminderen. Ook begon ik in die tijd met pottenbakken. Zelf spullen maken die je kunt gebruiken is fantastisch en het hele proces doorlopen is fascinerend. 

While I started making soap myself and working with clay, I delved into the area, called “De Purmer” in the Netherlands, to which we just moved. I discovered a fascinating legend: that of the “Purmer Zeewijf”. This would translate to the See Wife from the Purmer. In the old days, the Dutch word “wijf” used to be an ordinary name for a female person.

In 1403, a “wild and untamed see wife”, would be carried away by a flood from the Zuiderzee to the Purmermeer. Two milk maids from Edam found a way to catch the shy see wife. She was scrubbed and dressed, learned to eat and drink normal things, and to use a spinning wheel. She was a true tourist attraction and lived for many years in Haarlem. She would always, however, long for the see.

What a great legend and what an appealing name! With a wink to my soap making, I knew I had to continue under the name Zeepwijf. This could be translated to Soap Wife but, while “wife” in English is still a common name for a married woman with no negative connotations, in Dutch “wijf” has gotten a more negative connotation from the 16th century. The best fitting free translation (with a wink) is Soap Bitch. Although “bitch” and “wijf” do not translate one on one and “shrew” would be a better option, I think that Soap Bitch catches the feeling best.

To me, the name Zeepwijf stands for no-nonsense, pure, earthy, and sustainable. My goal is to unleash the Zeepwijf in me and to incorporate it into my ceramics and soap recipes. The work that you can find here, is the result of my endeavor.