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.