Anke Beenen

Anke Bonnes Beenen (18 January 1853 – 5 September 1886), Langezwaag, Netherlands, was a Dutch short track speed skater. Beenen was among notable Dutch woman speed skater in second half of nineteenth century. She became well known from pair speed skating competitions with Jouke Schaap, winning thousand guilders in prize money.

Career

When Beenen was 16 years old, she started skating in her hometown Langezwaag. It was noted by her father that she skated fast. She registered together with her brothers, Hendrik and Jan, for a major competition in Groningen in the winter of 1870. Beenen won the race with f 150 and a gold medal. Jouke Schaap (1846–1923) won the men's competition that same day. They agreed to start competing together in pair speed skating competitions.

Schaap en Beenen's first competition together was on 3 January 1871 at the Munnikspetten in Heerenveen, and it was their breakthrough. They won first prize and fl. 150. They would compete together for about ten years until 1881, and won many prizes; not only in Friesland but also in North Holland, South Holland and Groningen. Especially in their first winter of 1870–71 they were very successful, and won among others also the second prize in Bolsward and the first prize in Amsterdam (31 January 1871, f 150).

Beenen also continued to win prizes individually. She competed in the week she was going to marry on 3 February 1880 in Grouw and shortly after her marriage on 18 January 1881 in Hardegarijp. That winter of 1880–81 was the last winter she took part in competitions.

Popularity Around 1880 a painting of Beenen and Jouke Schaap (by known painter Janus Poustma) was displayed at a shop window in Gorredijk. On 22 December 1879 her speed skating club "Thialf" paid attention celebrated her silver anniversary by building a large gate in front of the house of the mayor of Schoterland, de Blocq van Scheltinga, on the Heideburen street in Heerenveen. On top were placed three figures: in the middle ice god Thialf and next to him Beenen and Jouke Schaap. Later, this representation was on display for many years in the ice tent of the Thialf ice rink. The wooden statue of Anke Beenen en Jouke Schaap was at the ice stadium Thialf for years until Thialf was rebuilt in 1926.

On 14 December 1974, a newspaper for the Leeuwarden and surroundings wrote an article about her life.

Personal life Beenen was born in Langezwaag. She married boatman Johannes Sijtzes Krist on 7 February 1880. It is said that she had a tough marriage, and she stopped with speed skating. They had four children: Bonne, Korneliske, Johanna and Geertje. Bonne drowned in Rotterdam in 1935. Beenen died young on 5 September 1886, aged 33. After her death Johannes Sijtzes Krist married again and lived in Leeuwarden.