Aaltien Kraak

1708 Hardenberg city fire On the evening of 8 May 1708 she accidentally caused the 1908 Hardenberg city fire. There are two stories about what happened. One is said that she held a burning oil lamp too close to the reed roof. The other story is she went to mend her son's "hoozen" (pants) and for this she needed some scraps of cloth that were in the . She illuminated her search with a candle or candlestick, which caused the bed to catch fire. Despite desperate attempts to extinguish the fire, the house quickly burned down.

After a fundraising campaign and through the determination and solidarity of the citizens, everyone received a new house. Kraak was not cast out, but thanks to the fundraising and various donations, she was given her own place in Hardenberg.

Commemoration of Kraak In 2008, 300 years after the fire, “Aaltje Kraak Day” has been established as an annual commemoration day in Hardenberg on 8 May.

For the 650th anniversary of Hardenberg, a bronze statue of Aaltje Kraak was unveiled, made by artist Geke Dijkhuis. It is located on the Wilhelmina square, near the Stephanuskerk (Stephanus Church).