Gertruid (Truuj) Bolwater (died 1511) was a legendary Dutch heroine, known as the defender of Venlo during its siege by Emperor Maximilian I when she climbed up the defence wall of the city and took over the defence wall from a fallen ensign.
Nowadays, however, historians have decided that she was a symbol and not a real person.
[citation needed] During the southern Dutch carnival, on the Thursday before the main event, in the city of Venlo is an all women festivity called Truujendaag in local dialect.
During this day, women dress in medieval clothes and roam the city.
In recognition of her (alleged) heroic act, a street in the city center was named after her.