On March 1, 1950, Maria Montessori lectured in Amsterdam’s Bach auditorium and spoke on the “early years” at the invitation of the Dutch National Montessori Association and the Association "De Amsterdamse Montessori School". The lecture was recorded by Dutch radio and Mr Wim Eijgensteijn, a Dutch amateur filmmaker, made some footage around the event. At the start of the short film we see people filing into the lecture, children waiting for the arrival of Maria Montessori by car, escorted by her grandson Mario Montessori Junior. At the end of the lecture Maria Montessori leaves the auditorium happily, greeting people. For the very observant watcher, we also see a glimpse of Mario Montessori and her granddaughter Renilde carrying flowers.

Thanks to the work of Mr Ger Langerijs this film was restored and remastered with the assistance of the Amsterdam Montessori Lyceum. We thank him for his permission to share this short film online in honour of Maria Montessori’s 150th celebratory year.

The auditorium was filled to capacity. In the words of a journalist present, 'Maria Montessori walks with some difficulty, but as soon as she is seated, she comes alive. Her eyes see sharply and betray a great intelligence and a passionate nature. Her voice is soft; she speaks fluent French, but when she gets excited, she reverts to Italian.'

The journalist is enthralled by her “creative intuitions”. Maria Montessori argued that in those early years of childhood

on ne touche pas un homme, on ne touche pas unindividu, on touche I'humanité. (One does not touch a human being, or an individual, one touches humanity.)

The journalist concluded her article by saying, 'She, Maria Montessori herself, is far more than the Montessori system. She is its bubbling source (…) she is the passionate ambassador of the young child.'