Background
She was born in Monster, South Holland as the daughter of a surgeon and Latin school director
She was born in Monster, South Holland as the daughter of a surgeon and Latin school director
After he died in 1719, Maria inherited his wealth, his art collection, which she kept, and his "shell cabinet", which she sold the same year. She had purchased some land for this purpose north of the Maliebaan, but by the time she died however, most of her poorer relatives were no longer living in the Hague, but were located in Leerdam and upon her passing, the regents she had chosen to execute her wishes decided to build the hofje in Leerdam. Women who could prove their relation to her were welcome to live there and received an allowance and were given turf blocks (a form of fuel like coal).
The hofje still exists and is called Hofje van Mevrouw van Aerden.
Like her contemporaries Aleida Greve and Maria Duyst van Renswoude, Maria Ponderus made many stipulations in her will to preserve her property in perpetuity. Maria van Aerden-Ponderus died in her home in the Hague and was buried in her family grave at "s-Gravenzande.