'De elektrieke kus in Middelburg. Over de vrouwelijke omarming van de natuurwetenschappen in de 18e en 19e eeuw', in: H.J. van Elburg en F. Zuurveen (eds.), 225 jaar Natuurkundig Gezelschap in Middelburg, Middelburg 2005, p.33-38. Despite the deep-rooted notion that women, science and technology simply do not mix, in the 18th and 19th century thousands of European women intensively engaged in scientific studies. In the Dutch city Middelburg as early as 1785 a separate society was set up for women from the highest social circles who wished to broaden their knowledge of ‘physics’ or ‘natural philosophy’. For many years the history of this “Ladies’ Society of Natural Sciences” simply reflected the history of its fraternal counterpart, the local “Society of Natural Sciences” for men, which was founded in 1780. The ladies and gentlemen came from the same aristocratic families, shared science books and instruments, chose the same tutors and chairmen, and met in the same building albeit at different times and frequencies. Men ánd women felt attracted to the new experimental sciences and to each other’s interest in these sciences. Yet, at the end of the 19th century, while the men’s society continued to exist the women’s society was forced to disband owing to ‘a lack of interest’ in 1887. This essay explains how the attraction between women and science could turn into repulsion, both in society at large and in the local community of Middelburg.