UG awards Aletta Jacobs Prize to Minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan

On Friday 6 March 2026, Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan will be awarded the University of Groningen (UG) Aletta Jacobs Prize by Rector Magnificus Jacquelien Scherpen. In her previous position as lieutenant general in the Dutch Armed Forces, she succeeded in drawing attention to the still misogynistic aspects of the Ministry of Defence in a humorous way, thereby helping to make the culture more equal from within.

Every two years, on or around International Women’s Day, the UG awards the Aletta Jacobs Prize to a woman who has made a significant contribution in the area of emancipation at a national or international level. The prize is named after Aletta Jacobs, the first female student at a Dutch university and a champion of women’s rights and interests.

Aletta action against lack of safety and violence

Boekholt-O’Sullivan was the first female lieutenant general in the Dutch armed forces and has recently been appointed Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning. She is dedicating the prize to women who have experienced a lack of safety or violence. She is also the initiator of ‘Actie Aletta’ (the Aletta action), a lecture tour of 16 educational institutions, organized following her receipt of the Aletta Jacobs Prize. On this tour, mayors, researchers, students, and experts at the Ministry of Defence discuss the prevention of unsafe situations and behaviour against women from various perspectives, such as law, health care, and technology. The Aletta action is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), the Universities of the Netherlands (UNL), the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the ‘Regeringscommissaris seksueel grensoverschrijdend gedrag en seksueel geweld’ (government commissioner for combatting sexual misconduct and sexual violence), and the ‘Wij eisen de nacht op’ (We Claim the Night) campaign, among other parties.

First female lieutenant general and new minister

Boekholt-O’Sullivan (1976) joined the Eindhoven air base as commander in 2016. In doing so, she was the first woman and first non-pilot to become commander of an air base. In 2022, she was promoted to lieutenant general, and therefore became the first woman to hold this position in the Dutch armed forces. The year after that, she was announced ‘Topvrouw van het Jaar’ (Woman of the Year). At the Ministry of Defence, Boekholt-O’Sullivan was responsible for introducing more female-friendly flak jackets, among other things. She also added a dress option to the standard uniform for women, so that they would have a choice and could wear what makes them feel comfortable and confident. In addition, she has advocated for increased equality in the European armed forces. As of 23 February, Boekholt-O’Sullivan is the new Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning. In this case, the jury of the Aletta Jacobs Prize chose to break from the tradition that the prizewinner must have a traditional academic background. President of the jury Marie-José van Tol: ‘Considering Boekholt-O’Sullivan’s exceptional accomplishments, we found that this awarding criterion should not stand in the way.’

Speakers at the Aletta Jacobs Award ceremony

During the ceremony, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change Janka Stoker and Professor of Safety and Interventions Marieke Liem will each deliver a speech. The Orchestra of the Royal Netherlands Air Force will provide musical accompaniment, among other musicians.

More information 

The award ceremony is freely accessible for the public upon registration via the Aletta Jacobs Prize website.