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.