Figure 1.--Baggy trousers and wooden shoes are two of the classic styles associated with Dutch boy's ethnic dress. The pointed garment are acharacteristic to Volendam.

Volendam means 'filled in dam'.. It is a picteresque medieval fishing village in North Holand. Today it is a popular tourist attraction, known for its fishing boats and the traditional clothing which some of the inhabitants still wear. The women's costume include high, pointed bonnets. It is one of the most recognizable of the various Dutch traditional costumes, commonly pictured on tourist postcards and posters. Only a small number of people wearing the costume as their every day dress, but you see more on special days. There is a regular ferry connection to nearby Marken, another pisueresque town. Boys might wear baggy trousers and wooden shoes. Therre is a museum about its history and clothing style. Visitors can have their pictures taken in traditional Dutch costumes. A Dutch reader reports, "Volendam is famous for its dress that became national dress! Not Marken." As he did not provide any further details, we are not precisely sure yet what he meant. Another Dutch reader spectulates that "... this comment perhaps meant that the native costumes the people of Volendam are wearing are misunderstood. He is right that these outfits are being perceived by the rest of the world as THE Dutch national costumes. Often when there is a promotion of Dutch products salespeople dress up like Volendamers. In the Netherlands itself folks know better. Only inhabitants of Volendam dress that way."

Created: 9:20 AM 9/18/2015
Last updated: 9:20 AM 9/18/2015