Exhibition: Sexology and Self-Help in the 1930s
Maastricht University Library presents an exhibition at Randwyck Library on Dutch gynecologist and sexologist Theodoor Hendrik van de Velde (1873–1937). A pioneer of modern sexology, Van de Velde argued that eroticism was not a moral danger but the foundation of a healthy marriage. His famous works, including Ideal Marriage (1926) and The Ideal Woman (1933), offered practical advice on intimacy, sexual variation, and contraception, written in an open yet refined style that made them accessible to a wide audience.
Although progressive in his discussion of pleasure and mutual responsibility, Van de Velde’s views remained limited to heterosexual marriage. In The Ideal Woman, he addressed women directly, encouraging them to develop their “sexual capabilities to their full value.” The book included hundreds of illustrations and exercises, blending medical authority with moral guidance. His ideas both reflected and challenged the social norms of his time.
Controversial yet influential, Van de Velde’s books were banned by the Nazis and placed on the Catholic Index of Forbidden Books, yet they continued to circulate widely. Today, they stand as early examples of the intersection between science, morality, and self-help.
The exhibition features rare Dutch and German editions from 1926 to 1950, drawn from Maastricht University Library’s Special Collections, alongside material from the former KEC-UM exhibition “De volmaakte vrouw”, which explores changing ideas of female sexuality and the “modern marriage” ideal of the early twentieth century.
Location
Registrations are provided by an external party or registration is not required for this event.