Houkje Gerrits Bouma

Houkje Gerrits Bouma (; 12 January 17888 August 1857), with surnames van der Veen, van der Schans and Vriezema from her marriages, was a Dutch female kortebaan speed skater who later lived in Veenwouden. She competed at the first known women's speed skating race in 1805 at the age of 16 and won the women's speed skating competition in 1809.

Early life Bouma was born in Akkerwoude. She was the daughter of Gerrit Mients Bouma and Geeske Ringers and was baptized on 3 February 1788. There were 128 women competing in Oldehove, Leeuwarden. Bouma won against Maaijke Sijbes from Oudwoude, in the second heat of Baukje Jacobs against Oudwoude and later against Sijtske Taeks from Rijperkerk. The next day she beat Wijtske Pieters from Eernewoude and in the fifth heat Rintje Redmers from Oppenhuizen. Only four women were left in the competition. She lost to Trijntje Pieters Westra from Poppingawier, who would later win the competition. Along the ice there were huge crowds watching the races. Johannes Rienks wrote a poem about this competition, Bouma stopped competing after her victory in 1809. They had a son, Yble, born in 1810.

Bouma died on 8 August 1857 in Bergum, aged 69. At the time of her death, she was described as rentenier (pensioner), so was a fortunate woman in her last years.