Flickr Favourites: Traditional Costume of Schokland, Holland

Today in the Flickr Favourites it's the turn of the traditional costume of Schokland in The Netherlands. Schokland was an island in the former Dutch Zuiderzee. As a result from the increasing sea-level Schokland transformed from an attractive settlement area in the Middle Ages to a place under continuous threat by floods in the 19th century. By that time the Schoklanders had retreated to the three most elevated parts, Emmeloord, Molenbuurt, and Middelbuurt. A major flood in 1825 brought massive destruction, and in 1859 the government decided to end permanent settlement on Schokland. The population of Schokland was moved to Kampen on the mainland. Schokland lost its status as an island when the Noordoostpolder was reclaimed from the sea in 1942. The remains are still visible as a slightly elevated part in the polder and by the still partly intact retaining wall of the waterfront of Middelbuurt.
Just as other islands in the Zuider Zee, Schokland had its own distinctive costume. The original Schokland costume very much resembled that of the island of Marken. A characteristic feature was the cylindrical bonnet with loose chin ribbons and the colorful outer garments. In the course of time changes appeared, likely influenced by the proximity of the island of Urk. By the end of the 18th century a costume with an ear ornament usually made of precious metal (locally called ‘oorijzer’, lit. ‘ear-iron’) and a starched white bonnet were quite popular with the women on Schokland. The female attire going with it, was mainly dark blue or black in color and made a less pretentious impression. A necklace of red coral beads indicated the wearer’s wealth and standing. Many of the elders held on to the traditional costume, so that both variants persisted over time. After the evacuation the population spread over the mainland surrounding the Zuider Zee, the traditional costume became obsolete and it was lost at the beginning of the last century. There is a choir existing of offspring from the former island who sing in costume.

For more flickr favourites see ArtMind's blog.

1. WL-090506-033, 2. bloedkoralen, 3. Schokkerkoor op Schokland, 4. www.flickr.com/photos/jackvandongen/4990415866/in/gallery...

And two picture postcards from my own collection.