By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS (Worthy News) – An elderly Christian woman has been sentenced to 20 hours of community service in the Netherlands for smashing 300 “idols” made of ceramic in 2023, declaring, “There is only one God, that is Yahweh” while calling the art exhibition a “false image of God.”

The 83-year-old, only identified as Harriët T., traveled hours by train from her Dutch eastern city of Enschede to the central Netherlands town of Maarssen, where the small statues were shown, Worthy News reported at the time.

They were displayed at the “Exodus” exhibition in Buitenplaats Doornburgh (‘Country Estate Doornburgh’), a former Maarssen monastery, organized by the Bijbels Museum (‘Biblical Museum’) and artist Marieke Ploeg.

Volunteers made some 3,000 ‘fertility goddess’ Asherah dolls as part of Ploeg’s attempt to “advocate a female manifestation” of God.

However, Harriët T., who was a Christian missionary in the Middle East, called the exhibition “blasphemous” and wanted to “take action.”

The Dutch Christian entered the Buitenplaats Doornburgh, bought a ticket for the Exodus exhibition, and looked around before walking to the many Asherah statues. To the amazement of those present, she then trampled on what she called the “idols,” witnesses said.

DEFENDING ACTIONS

Harriët T. did not attempt to hide her actions on that Friday afternoon of September 22, 2023. Instead, she told the police court in the Dutch city of Utrecht: “I accept my punishment with joy. It is an honor to bear it.”

The Christian recalled that she first heard about the exhibition from her sister and was deeply offended by its description, as it suggested that Ashera represented “the feminine half” of God.

“That would mean God was split in two,” she argued during Monday’s court procedure. “This exhibition pushed a false image of God. He does not need or tolerate another beside Him. I had to take a stand.”

Armed with a Bible in her bag, she methodically smashed hundreds of the figurines, according to investigators.

“That many?” she responded in court when told the extent of the damage. “I thought it was maybe fifty. It was a long hallway, and I only did a small part.”

The judge noted that she seemed almost pleased with her actions, but the woman rephrased it differently: “I literally trampled Ashera underfoot.”

‘DEEPLY UPSETTING’

Yet artist Marieke Ploeg said the attack on her work was deeply unsettling. “For weeks, I was shaken and afraid. What if others followed her example and came to destroy more?”

The Biblical Museum’s Director Carolien Croon feared the incident “could make lenders hesitant to contribute to future exhibitions.” Fortunately, those concerns did not materialize, she stressed.

Prosecutors argued that while T. was free to oppose the artwork, she had no right to destroy it. “She may believe the statues were blasphemous, but the artist has the right to believe otherwise.”

They initially sought 550 euros ($578) in fines. However, the judge took a firm stance, calling the act “more serious than vandalism committed in a drunken rage.”

“This is completely unacceptable,” he said. “If everyone destroyed things they found offensive, it would lead to chaos and conflict. You do not have the right to destroy someone else’s property.”

Before handing down the community service sentence, the court gave Harriët T. one final piece of advice: “Next time, just walk away.”

POLICE SURPRISED

Local police were surprised about the incident. “You are twice as old as [the suspects] we normally receive here,” an officer was quoted as telling Harriët T. during her hours at the police station.

After her release, the Christian told the media that despite being an “extremely loyal, law-abiding person,” she could not accept “falsehoods” about the Lord.

Other Christians have also called attempts to express God’s alleged femininity “wrong,” saying Jesus Christ appeared as a man, and nowhere in the Bible is God referred to as “she.”

Yet, Biblical Museum Director Croon has argued that people should look beyond these undisputed Biblical facts.

“It becomes complicated when your image of God is so fixed that another vision cannot challenge it,” she noted in published remarks. “That is sad, especially in a society with great cultural and religious diversity. Tolerance and love for humanity are essential.”

Don’t tell that to Harriët T.

She had declined an attorney, preferring to “explain myself why I did it” and speak about the One she says she serves: Jesus Christ.

Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.

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