Marken

Of all national costumes, those of Marken are the most remarkable and singular, therewith very complicated.  Where we see that the island is quite near Amsterdam, it is very noteworthy that the costume is still unchanged.

The boys and girls are dressed the same till their sixth year.  They wear coloured petticoats with caps of flowered red material.  The only difference is the form of the cap.  After their sixth birthday, the boys get the complete mans dress; the girls after their sixteenth year - a woman's dress.

The upper part of the body is clad with a bodice with long striped sleeves, the bodice has a rich ornament of geometric flowers in strong colours.  Around the hips are fastened a kind of long cushions, which make the petticoats fall wider.  The blue apron is of woven, checkered cotton.  Over the sleeves another pair of half sleeves till the elbows, made of violet satinet with yellow.  Around the neck is a little shawl, pleated in a special way and at the ends decorated with little tassels of silver and coral.

The covering of the head is a white cap, over which a stiff ribbon and two bands and a ribbon with ornaments in cross stitch.

The mostly straw yellow hairs are cut off in the neck, the rest twisted to long curls, coming from under the cap on both sides of the head.  The hair in front is cut short and slightly curled upwards.

The men wear wide trousers till just under the knees, so that the blue stockings can be seen.  They wear a round, felt hat.

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Walcheren

As beautiful as the island is, so beautiful that the women and girls also are there with their wonderful build, their fine-cut faces, their dark eyes, beautiful arms and necks.

Women's dress is the same for children and grown ups and consists of a a number of petticoats, the upper of black material.  The arms are bare till over the elbow.  The marvelous cap with gold decoration is white, sometimes with lace and pleats.  The hair is curled in a special way.  Around the neck is a red coral chain with gold clasp.  The shoes are slippers, even in winter the healthy woman defies the cold, although her arms are bare.  There is nothing more remarkable than a market day at Middelburg, in front of the picturesque town hall, a show of a great number of dresses, unique in that part of Europe.

Scheveningen

It is very remarkable how it is possible, that in a fisherman's village just near a large city.  The Hague and direct near an international high-life bathing place population, the inhabitants wear their own costume as if the bathing place was not there.

The women of Scheveningen wear 5 petticoats over each other, all of different colour and material.  Over them is worn a black apron.  On Sundays it is made of silk.  The upper part of the body is clad with a bodice of grey, brown or blue cotton and a square shawl, folded to a big triangle, fastened at the waist.  On the head a cap with ear ornament, fixed with two upright pearl-pins.

The shawl is fastened around the neck with a gold brooch with chain and gold clasp.  Roman Catholic women wear a cross instead of a brooch.

The man's dress is a blue woollen jersey, wide trousers and a cap.  As remembrance of former times, on several occasions he wears a top hat.

Nunspeet

The national costume of the Zuyder-Seacoast is principally worn along the border of the Veluwe.  Noteworthy is that the kerchief is not pinned at the waist, but under the armpits.  The cap has another shape than those of Staphorst, forming itself more behind than above the head with a white undercap, scalloped at the temples, spanning around the whole head and furnished with a fine pleated strip.

Over the cape comes the party-coloured cap, which shows a little part of the white one.  Here-over the silver casque, fastened with a ribbon and a golden curl at the temples. The hair is all hidden under the cap.  At funerals you can often see peculiar costumes, the men in long jackets and top hat.

Spakenburg

This costume is very brightly coloured for the women.  The first thing which strikes you is the covering of the shoulders, which is made of white material with bright-coloured red flowers.  Close around the neck they wear a red-striped muffler, which is pinned at the waist.

The muffler, which a bride wears, is white.  The half length over-sleeves and the upper part of the apron are also of striped white material.  The hair is put up and held together with a black ribbon, on it comes a black under-cap and then a cap of white lace.

Very special is the wedding costume, which all young girls seem to have in stock, even before they get engaged.  They wear it when they go to church.

The children's dress is more simple, though it is strong red coloured.

Staphorst

The costume of this village distinguishes itself from many other by its completeness, as well for men, women and children.  The woollen material, people need for the dress comes from the sheep, which are reared by the inhabitants.  The women spin the woollen thread, which is coloured by them in special colours and is woven by hand to material.  The red checkered kerchief strikes very much against the blue of the bodice, the ribbons of the apron are always light blue. The bow hangs in front of the body with long ends.  The petticoats are held up by little cushions so that they make the hips broader than they are.  Under the singular cap an ear ornament is worn, fastened by a black ribbon.  Children wear the same dress, though it is more simple.

On Sundays the Staphorst woman goes to church with a beautiful, silver-decorated bible with chains, clasp etc.  She is very clean on her dress.

Men's dress is simple; closed waistcoat and short jacket with two rows of silver buttons.  The shirt with the two famous Staphorst buttons is to be seen at the neck.