There has been, however, suggested that the French, who were losing at the front, wanted to put an action. In France raged, as the war progressed, an always larger fear for spies. From this fear it was not illogically assumed that a woman, who was known as courtesan, and moreover of foreign source, had more bad actions still on her conscience.

 

A condemnation of Mata Hari, the famous dancer, would give thus an enormous impetus to the morals of the French population and soldiers. The bases for that representation have been laid in the years after her execution. The lack of source material made Mata Hari moreover a willing victim for most wild the fantasies concerning her amorous way of life, her `master ship in espionage, or her image as `femme fatale The French journalist Charles Heymans for example depicted Mata Hari in 1930, as (German) an Egyptian vulture which wound men round her fingers.

 

Still less than concerning her alleged pro-German feelings or her unscrupulous character, he spoke mean concerning Mata Hari as a woman. As a woman Margaretha behaved in absolutely no manners, thus Heymans. She flirted with other men, were lazy and negligent. She gave nothing for the household or her husband. She would have been a femme fatale, that used demonic powers concerning men, a power she used for her activities as a spy.

 

Margaretha's stage name Mata Hari, indicated from his point of view thus not on a warm, life delivering sun, but on tropical sun, the being scorched sun, a sun which scorches, those dazzle, those dry out, that in flame puts, that makes crazy and kills. All in all Heymans judgement is destroying: Margaretha was in league with the enemy, and she was the label woman’s hardly worthy. Although not everyone will agree with this words, an important component of the legend Mata Hari correctly her nomination as femme fatale who dregs men into destruction. Still Mata Hari's name is associated with a tempting spy who is able to get hold of the biggest secrets of state and army trough the bed. The suggestion that `free women such as Mata Hari, not only fatal are in love, but also in times of war has mainly stipulated the representation around Mata Hari.

 

This sexualised vision of female agents offers plenty of possibilities to unmask the myth of  the femme fatale. But feminists and/or woman historians have nearly never occupied themselves with Mata Hari. Emma Brunt, as one of the few, has given attention to her. Dutch women well-known in their cord with necrologies, Mata Hari comes forward come as a free spirited, openly sexually active woman. Something what cannot frequently be said of feminists or other women from the beginning of the twentieth century.

 

Yet Brunt especially lays the emphasis on Mata Hari as `projection screen: she imagined in her dances the dreams and (sexual) fantasies of men. Although men, and especially soldiers, took part in an important part of her life, I  would not want to reduce her `projection screening for male fantasies. Mata Hari has succeeded in her fantasies concerning soldiers, fame and attention and to lead an extraordinary adventurous life.

     

Statue 1976 in Leeuwarden. Made by the Dutch Guus Boschma-Berkenhout. Only a ten of meters of the house at de Cellars where Margaretha is born in 1876.

The world of Mata Hari in miniature scale 1:12 , stood exhibited for almost 2 Years. It  was exhibited in the Frisian Museum in the Netherlands since , July 2 - October 29 - 2006

The execution of Mata Hari is provisionally my last project. And also a project where I have had most of the effort emotionally. But it belongs to the story!!! What has started as an idea of making a doll in miniature, has developed into a mega project, and for me one of the most important and nicest projects which I order on hobby. Meanly because so many different reactions. Even people who don’t  have anything with this hobby, are fascinated. I must confess that I’m a little sad that it’s finished. Therefore for the time present, this is my last project concerning her biography.

I must honestly admit that I regret, that my Mata Hari story is almost ready no.But at this moment, I am still busy with building the Mata Hari Room. What I will do, is make one chest of this temporary exhibition, of which I received the original wallpaper from Gerk Koopmans. Because my PASSION, for Mata Hari started once there.

Greetings Conny.