Urk

On this most interesting fishermen's island, now belonging to the continent by the partial reclaiming of the Zuyder Sea, still live people of race, beautiful and healthy of build with beautiful types of women and strong men.

The men's dress with the short, wide trousers and the close fitting jackets are the easiest dress for their work, the fishing trade.

Of course the women wear the usual number of petticoats of different material, mostly of dark flowered silk, dark wool or cloth with here and there a little decoration.

The covering of the head is very close-fitting so that the often very beautiful face comes out clearly.  Over the hair comes the black under-cap, there-over the silver ear decoration then the over-cap of lace.  Around the neck a chain of corals with a gold clasp behind.  The front of the kerchief is mostly decorated with an ornament which sometimes shows the initials of the bearer.  The shawl is of dark coloured flowered silk, often dark red or purple with fringe.  The apron is of flowered silk.  Over the bare underarms women wear black knitted woollen muffetees.  Remarkable is that the costume for widows, brides and children does not change in form, but in colour.  For a widow it is black for a bride more coloured, for the children more simple.