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What a remarkable portrait, and what a meaningful location, right in front of the Peace Palace. Bertha von Suttner was indeed a remarkable woman: she is considered one of the most important peace activists in modern history. 

The bust was created by The Hague sculptor Ingrid Rollema and donated to the city by the Carnegie Foundation. Originally commissioned to mark the centenary of the Peace Palace in 2013, the work was unveiled in 2025. 

Rollema portrays Von Suttner with a powerful gaze and long, flowing hair. The golden accents emphasize her international standing and the appreciation for her tireless efforts to achieve world peace. It is no coincidence that Ingrid Rollema was given this commission; she herself is also known for her work on behalf of children in conflict areas. 

Bertha von Suttner (1843–1914) gained international fame with her anti-war novel Die Waffen nieder! (Lay Down Your Arms!), which she published in 1889. In this book, she describes the effects of war on people: how families are torn apart and relationships are disrupted. The title of the book is inscribed on the steel pedestal of the bust as a powerful appeal. At the bottom, this message of peace is repeated in many languages, addressed to peoples around the world. 

Von Suttner's work and ideas inspired, among others, Russian Tsar Nicholas II to organize the First Hague Peace Conference in 1899. She then approached steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and convinced him of the need to finance an international court of justice where countries could resolve conflicts through litigation rather than war: the Peace Palace. 

In 1905, Bertha von Suttner became the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It is therefore more than fitting that she is commemorated here, in this prominent location in The Hague.