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.

Brabant

Like in many other districts of Holland the cap is here the main part of the costume, though the costume itself is also interesting.  Therefore all ingeniousness is concentrated and nearly every village has its own form and the differences are sometimes very particular.  Usually the cap is made of lace and is of a large size, therefore very expensive.  Often it is decorated with corals and a big brim of flowers, which is laid around the head like a wreath as thick as an arm and fastened by a small ribbon.  On the brim often are broad ribbons of white silk, hanging over the back nearly till the waist.  Children often wear in their caps little bells of black glass, which jingle when they are walking.  With the cap often special god decorations are worn.

Twente

In Twente principally the pleated cap with gold ear decoration and coral neck chain is characteristic for the costume.  This cap is also worn in other districts of the province Overijssel and has a band of heavy pleats behind and is washed and ironed by the bearer herself.