In the northern part of the Netherlands, you will find a small village called Volendam. Nowadays, Volendam represents ‘typical Dutch’ elements that have lied in tradition for generations. These elements can be found within dikes, windmills, polders and moreover the traditional clothing. These tradtional garments have been cherished for years and not only reflect the rich history of the region, but also serve as a testament to its cultural identity.
Different regions in the Netherlands know their own traditional costumes, with the traditional Volendam attire being one of the most famous. The tradtional costume, in Dutch refered to as ‘klederdracht’ contains a large amount of relegious aspects as well as symbolism.
This tour will demonstrate the different aspects of the traditional female costume from Volendam, the symbolism, the history and how it represents Dutch culture in general as well specifically in media.
For women, the attire typically consists of a colorful dress adorned with intricate patterns, with a snug fitting bodice and apron. The lace cap, called the hul, cannot be missed from the costume as well as other aspects. Below, you find a graphic of all of the traditional aspects that can be found within the traditional costume of Volendam.
As of today, the traditional costume is not as visible on the streets. Is it not quite clear why the costume has dissapeared from the Volendam streets. However it is known that the popularity declined after the second world war (Brinkkemper, 2024). The legacy however, is not forgotten as simply, different museums and private initiatives exist to educate people from all over the world to not let this cultural heritage dissapear. As of today, a very small amount of people in Volendam still wear the costume which are usually elderly people (Minderhoud, 2004).
