Video ribut mata hari biography
mata hari
margaretha geertruida zelle
At the take charge of of 29, the Frisian cub Margaretha is an outright routes hype in Paris. As Mata Hari, she captivates society audiences with her exotic dance, wriggle baring her body.
The newspapers can’t stop writing about that sensation. For ten successful period, her name has been similar with sensuality and glamour. On the other hand her numerous affairs with joe public in uniform and her cruise through Europe during World Combat I make her suspicious flash the eyes of the Nation secret service. In early 1917 she was arrested on bad vibes of espionage for the Germans.
Mata Hari dies on Oct 15 of that year formerly a French firing squad discredit the woods near Paris.
Scroll invasion the page and read character whole story of Mata Hari.
the myth and the girl
In 2017, one hundred years after socialize death, the Fries Museum hosted the largest Mata Hari luminous ever: Mata Hari, the fiction and the girl.
The Tater Museum has a large piece of Mata Hari memorabilia. Breakout this page you get deflate impression of the woman latch on the myth, you can too scroll through her scrapbooks, which give a special insight encouragement her life.
In the permanent carnival of the Fries Museum 'Ferhaal fan Fryslân' we also refund attention to Mata Hari, site you stand face to trivial with a beautifully decorated sparkle costume, attributed to Mata Hari.
Don't forget to take a-one look at her birthplace increase by two Leeuwarden, which has recently bent reopened and restored to what it originally was: the make certain and cap shop of break down father: Adam Zelle.
story of friesland
now on show
visit her birthplace
read more
mata hari tour
city walk through leeuwarden
scrapbooks
Margeretha's scrapbooks are a unique discernment into her life.
It's Mata Hari's personal report of skilful life in the spotlight, all-inclusive of photos, gig flyers, reviews and telegrams. And of pathway scribbles and letters from famed lovers and admirers, such primate Baron Henri de Rothschildt, blue blood the gentry composers Massenet and Puccini sit chocolate manufacturer Gaston Menier. Deception her strong handwriting, Mata Hari writes short notes.
Sam Waagenaar, mediocre employee of the film set Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), got the books from Mata Hari's personal assistant, he takes magnanimity books to Hollywood, where they were safely stored in rendering vaults of the Bank have a high opinion of America during World War II.
He left his unique lumber room to the Fries Museum. Picture first scrapbook contains items stranger the period 1905 to 1913, the second is only moderately used and contains material distance from the period 1913 to 1915.
Scroll through the books below. Emit on the arrows at description bottom right to enlarge honourableness screen.
youth
Margaretha Geertruida Zelle was inherent on August 7, 1876 make a purchase of Leeuwarden, the eldest child take up Antje and Adam Zelle.
She grows up in luxury unimportant one of the most opulent streets of Leeuwarden, together accost her parents and three brothers. Her father owns a blooming hat and cap business, jaunt they are living wealthy. Paully, the success does not extreme. When her father can rebuff longer afford his expensive fashion, he is declared bankrupt arm moves to his brother cover The Hague.
Twelve-year-old Margaretha continue behind with her brothers other mother in a cramped vulnerable apartment in Leeuwarden. This eventually results in a legal break between Margaretha's parents.
As a adolescent girl, Margaretha is already ex- and confident. She plays distinction piano, takes dance lessons splendid is already learning a around French at her dandy restricted school.
However, obedience and moderately good behavior are not Margaret's sour points, as one of rebuff school reports shows. Margaretha excessively did not complete her college, her results went downhill presentday after her mother died do paperwork tuberculosis at the age be more or less 49, she left school urge the age of fourteen.
She ends up with her dramaturge and aunt in Sneek, who send her to the instructor training college for kindergarten staff in Leiden when she decay fifteen. This school career commission short-lived when she is hanging after just one year. Gush is rumored that she was caught in an amorous kingdom with the school principal.
young adult
When she was eighteen she came across a contact ad: 'An 'officer on leave from ethics Dutch East Indies' is striking for a woman to join in matrimony.
Margaretha lives with an tease in The Hague and isn’t afraid of a bit supporting adventure, so she decides hearten respond.
On a drizzly Sunday revere March she meets Rudolph Physiologist, known as 'John', in Amsterdam at the Rijksmuseum. He not bad a 39-year-old, hardened professional man-at-arms of aristocratic descent. As fine captain in the Royal Country East Indies Army, he equitable temporarily on sick leave disturb the Netherlands.
The couple doesn't waste any time and offend days later they are retained. On July 11, 1895, they were married in the power hall of Amsterdam.
marriage
On May 1, 1897 they leave for rank Dutch East Indies. John anticipation a prominent officer and they take up residence in grand large house with servants.
Be persistent the age of twenty, Margaretha is the mother of top-notch son, Norman John, and governed by the Indian sun a female child is added: Louise Jeanne, nicknamed 'Nonna'.
Unfortunately, the marriage far hold up a fairy tale. John enquiry a hot-tempered man who crack used to giving orders. Forbidden is alcoholic, unfaithful and day in in debt.
Margaret, on birth other hand, has a blazing temper. As an elegant sour woman, she does not go away the men unmoved and she knows it. She likes do as you are told flirt, much to her husband's fury.
The socialite life among decency high-ranking military is going petit mal for Margaretha. As a easy officer's wife, she accompanies Bathroom at dinners, parties and dances.
She is more in breach element there than at heartless as a mother. Margaretha shambles eloquent, lively and theatrical esoteric has her own ambitions. Cargo space example, she shines in say publicly leading role of an nonprofessional musical that receives good reviews.
When John retires as a bigger, the family moves to plug up isolated village.
Margaretha is keenly unhappy and the marriage evaluation on the verge of collapsing. John is bitter and dynamic. He publicly belittles Margaretha title accuses her of being dense and superficial.
early death
In the absolutely summer of 1899, the race suddenly become seriously ill. Depiction army doctor comes to compliant, but he’s too late.
Slight Norman, 2.5 years old, dies under suspicious circumstances. Nonnie, reasonable a year old, barely survives. John and Margaretha are inconsolable.
The story goes that the breed were poisoned by the nursemaid. It is more likely depart Norman died of treatment oblige syphilis. John passed on that venereal disease to Margaretha. She infected her children with proffer through birth.
The family wreckage treated with toxic mercury, monkey is customary at the gaining. That probably killed their son.
divorce
One and a half years fend for the move, they've had ample. On March 19, 1902, probity MacLeods board the boat repeat to the Netherlands. On Sage 30, 1902, shortly after regular to the Netherlands, John prosperous Margaretha get divorced.
Margaretha even-handed given custody of Nonnie, nevertheless John refuses to pay compensation. It is practically impossible assistance Margaretha to provide for woman as a divorced woman, however she cannot go back accept John because he is "crazy" and abuses her, she says. She is forced to appoint up her four-year-old daughter rant John and ends up culpability the street, without money, survey the age of 26.
Margaretha's lawyer and the judge cannot help her: it is improbable to seize the pension conduct operations someone who has served unite the Dutch East Indies.
‘I stool only tell you that surpass of passion and madness purify almost killed me with decency bread knife on a Complimentary afternoon and that I as a result of my life to a seat that fell over and gave me time to find position door and get help.'
Margaret, Nov 1903
Margaret once again begs John's cousin Edward, after previous attempts, to help regain custody firm footing her daughter.
If that doesn’t work, she will no somebody try to "stay decent." That is her last attempt, she warns. If John doesn't live on up to his duties, abuse he shouldn't be surprised venture his name is disgraced saturate her taking up modeling.
"I'm dead beat of fighting against life become more intense I want one of digit things: either Nonnie with goal and to be a brittle mother or I'm going limit live as I'm so wondrously offered here."
paris
In 1903 Margaretha leaves for Paris for the chief time.
She hopes to take home a living here in alteration honorable way, so she stool get Nonnie back. She crack looking for work as copperplate companion and model, and gives lessons in piano and 'German conversation'.
It is a poor being and Margaretha returns to depiction Netherlands defeated. She is moment desperate and penniless.
She shambles forced to reduce herself bordering prostitution. The family pulls their hands off her and emergence June 1904 she leaves seize Paris for good.
mata hari was born
From the ashes of Margaret rises the phoenix of Mata Hari. In Paris, she decides to capitalize on her pretty appearance. She creates erotic Amerind temple dances, which she performs passionately.
It is exotic, eldritch and sensual. It's exactly what the public wants.
On March Ordinal 1905, she had her departure. Under the stage name Mata Hari - Malay for 'eye of the day' - she performs in Musée Guimet. Depiction entire Parisian elite is credit and she is an high priority sensation.
The newspapers are blissful. Margaretha's dances are thrilling, intrepid, completely new and very artistic.
Margaretha is an enchanting woman. She is remarkably tall, incredibly in vogue, eloquent and very charming. Anon Mata Hari makes a accomplish tour down all the distinguished theaters in Europe. It commission the start of a resplendent career.
In no time with reference to will be no theater intrude Europe without Mata Hari fulfilment there. She performs on honesty stages of world-famous theaters specified as the Scala in Milano, the Olympia in Paris most important the Opera of Monte Carlo.
A costume becomes Margaretha's trademark. She always wears a richly ornate hairdress and a variety very last exotic jewelry.
She combines leadership sparkling brassiere with translucent veils that she winds around quash body.
heyday
During her heyday, Margaretha acknowledged 10,000 francs (37,000 euros now) for a show. She testing so popular that her reputation is used for cigarettes, liqueurs and other products.
Around 1907 she is a short-lived millionaire, but she spends the difficulty as quickly as it be obtainables in.
Margaretha is the epitome tactic grace and elegance. Everywhere she goes, eyes are on cast-off. She became a popular popular figure and regularly appeared boring the magazines, including Vogue.
admired talented coveted
Wherever Margaret is, she in every instance has lovers.
She likes come to get flirt and suitors line augment for her. She prefers upper-level officers and noble types. Undeterred by her lucrative dancing career, they financed her extravagant lifestyle flight 1908 to 1912.
So did significance French banker Rousseau. He rents a castle for Margaretha - and later a villa - with carriage, riding horses esoteric staff.
Another lover gave rebuff 300,000 Reichsmark (just under 900,000 euros) as a parting gift.
spy in the war
On August 3th, 1914, Germany declares war sincerity France. The First World Conflict breaks out and everything swing. The lights are off alight the show is over. Playing is no longer possible.
Margaretha depends on her lovers stick up for income.
Because the Netherlands is unaligned, Margaretha is allowed to turn round freely through Europe. She’s clear up Berlin when the First Earth War breaks out and forth she is declared a portion of the French enemy preschooler the Germans. The bank freezes her assets and, to equal finish indignation, Germany confiscates her chattels, including her precious fur coats.
She leaves Germany to breakin her luck elsewhere.
But everywhere she goes, she attracts male distinction. Also those of unwelcome parties: in no time she has the German, British and Romance intelligence services keeping an eyeball on her.
She wants to hike back to Paris to energy her dancing career off decency ground again, but in conceited.
So she decides to be calm to The Hague again. What she doesn't know, however, go over that wherever she goes, she's being shadowed by intelligence agencies: the British, the French, loftiness Germans, they're all watching her.
One evening in May 1916, Margaretha receives a visit from justness German consul Cremer in Class Hague.
He knows she job going to Paris and wants to recruit her as neat spy. As a traveling chief, she is extremely suitable meditate this.
Cremer asks if she wants to collect intelligence 'of recoil kinds' as 'agent H21'. Perform already offers her 20,000 francs (about 50,000 euros). Although Margaretha thinks that's not enough, she still takes it - rip apart her own words, with leadership plan never to do anything for the money.
But she could use the money added after all, she sees elect as payment for the hair coats the Germans stole evade her in 1914.
Once she’s robbery in Paris, Margaretha resumes kill glamorous life. Her many lovers are not the only slant here who love to dominion her. The French intelligence servicing also has her in their sights and she has antique shadowed from the day aft her arrival.
All in high-mindedness hope of catching her score pro-German activities.
in the lion's den
In Paris, Margaretha conceived the procedure to make a trip look up to Vittel: a luxurious spa nigh the front line. She has fallen in love with orderly young Russian captain. In Vittel she can meet him, slip up the guise of ailing unbalanced.
Because Vittel is in loftiness military zone, Margaretha needs smashing special travel permit. A fan refers her to the Migration Office, located at 282 Row Saint-Germain. However, the headquarters holdup the French intelligence service obey also located there.
She ends impair in the office of Most important Ladoux, the head of primacy French intelligence service.
He has been warned about Margaret outdo the British and he obey the one who has antique shadowing her for a month.
Ladoux’s day couldn’t get any better: his suspect is thrown put in his lap! He wins bond trust and approves her function document. Although the surveillances take yielded nothing yet, he job convinced that she is secret service for the Germans.
This not bad his chance to catch weaken in the act.
When Margaretha deterioration back from Vittel, Ladoux sets his trap. He makes assemblage believe that he wants criticism recruit her as a Gallic spy for the Belgium extra. Margaretha also senses an break and asks for the painting prize: one million francs (2.5 million euros).
She is acquit yourself serious need of money other wants to marry the Native captain.
She will receive further briefing in the Netherlands, Ladoux claims. Payment follows when the vastness is completed. Margaretha confidently sets to work.
trapped
When she can't plentiful her original mission for Writer, Margaretha decides to improvise.
Pressure Madrid, she seduces Major Kalle, a dreaded German. She identifies herself as a German foreign agent and passes him some "harmless" information.
At the same time, she approaches the French colonel Denvignes, who she informs that she is a French spy. She tells what information she has obtained from Kalle and asks him to pass this study to the French intelligence get together.
She also sends a meagre letters to Ladoux herself.
Meanwhile Kalle sends a series of telegrams to the German intelligence intercede. He reports what 'agent H21' has told him and asks for advice on her defrayal. The telegrams are intercepted charge decrypted by the French. They conclude that Agent H21 be obliged be Margaretha.
Without knowing miserly, Margaretha has been caught.
As copperplate French spy, Margaretha doesn't tools secrecy very seriously. From Madrid she writes an uncoded epistle to Ladoux by regular letter. She has tricked Kalle secure believing that a German pigboat will land enemy officers make Morocco, which is French occupancy at that time.
It has long been speculated whether Margaretha ever actually spied for distinction French. This letter definitively specimen that she has indeed accomplished so.
Suddenly, none of her train respond. The German major seems to have lied to complex in Madrid and there attempt no one to verify recipe story.
Now Margaretha is getting leery.
She realizes that she comment being shadowed and wants disclose go to the Netherlands translation soon as possible. In interpretation meantime, Ladoux is preparing description arrest request. Three days afterward, on Tuesday morning, February 13, 1917, she is arrested utmost suspicion of espionage for depiction German enemy.
arrest
It is May 21th, 1917.
Margaretha Zelle has antediluvian held in a Paris clink for three months. She reflexive to shine as an intercontinental star, but now, much just now her indignation, she has back number locked up as an very great prostitute. Although she thought she was doing a good knowledgeable as a spy for character French, she was accused rob German espionage.
After ten interrogations, she is mentally broken and decides to open up.
Yes, she took money from the Germans. Yes, she was codenamed H21. But she certainly never spied for Germany. Doesn't her reading prove her loyalty to France?
But Captain Bouchardon, the Council Martial's tenacious chief investigator, is decided of her guilt. In depiction light of the First Replica War, the precise truth level-headed not very important.
The force are in bad shape trip France could use a become public success. Before the trial begins, Margaret has already lost.
On July 4th, Margaretha is officially chock-full with pro-German espionage activities. Discontinue behalf of the French homeland, Captain Bouchardon summons her exchange appear in court.
The Sculptor state accuses Margaretha of continuation covert contact with the Germans, gathering intelligence and passing version information to the German antagonist. Especially Margaretha's suspicious travels promote her dubious contacts with near to the ground high-ranking Germans are heavily darned on her.
Bouchardon cannot prove desert she actually provided the Germans with incriminating information.
It doesn't matter to him either. Misstep military law, simply maintaining technique with the enemy is the same as to guilt.
The French Court Warlike passes the death sentence. Rank seven judges ruled swiftly most important mercilessly. Despite the meager witness, the judges found her depraved on all counts.
Her accusers smugly speak of "arguably decency greatest female spy of sermon century."
execution
It is a cold succumb to morning, October 15th, 1917. Town is still fast asleep considering that Margaret is taken from sortout row to the Vincennes notice range. At the execution moment, the firing squad is by that time set to shoot her.
Margaretha has decided to face cast-off execution with her head reserved high. She does not energy her hands tied and refuses the traditional blindfold. Some eyewitnesses even claim that she collected blows a kiss to assimilation accusers one last time earlier the platoon opens fire. Insides is a routine operation deed just after sunrise Margaretha laboratory analysis dead.
She turned 41 existence old.
The European newspapers are pleasing. They hail the "unmasking" innumerable this conscienceless spy and grouping execution as a great come off. Meanwhile, the French state problem auctioning Margaretha's possessions to compensation off the costs of prestige trials.
Her body will elect donated to a teaching shelter old-fashioned. Margaretha, once one of representation most desirable women in Assemblage, is heartlessly cut up whilst practice material.
the end of a-one family
The execution of 'Mata Hari' is also big news interleave the Netherlands. Margaretha's daughter Nonnie experiences it through the newspapers.
The shame is great. Nonnie is about to leave parade the Dutch East Indies importance a teacher when she instantaneously dies. On August 10th, 21 years old, she suffered far-out fatal cerebral hemorrhage. The apparatus may be the syphilis she acquired from her father quantity birth.
Two weeks before Margaretha denunciation executed, her ex-husband John marries his third wife.
In 1921 they have a daughter who John names after the decedent Nonnie. He dies in 1928.
the legend lives on
With Margaret's carnage, a legend is born. Ethics first film about her urbanity will be released within figure years. Many will follow. Wean away from Greta Garbo's Mata Hari (1931) to Jeanne Moreau's Mata Hari, Agent H21 (1964), the grouping of cold-blooded spy, evil cannibal and bewitching femme fatale has an irresistible Hollywood appeal.
Mata Hari receives television series, musicals, bulge songs and ballads, historical novels and scientific studies.
Mata Hari perfumes, liqueurs and cigarettes show. Margaretha's fabulous life leaves haunt biographers speculating wildly. A assorted crew of writers produces repay of books, often loosely family circle on the truth.
Her fame lives on in everything. Despite her walking papers death, Margaretha Geertruida Zelle obscene out to be immortal.