Featured Dutch regional dress and jewellery video.

Photographer Jimmy Nelson, who is famous for stunning portraits of people in Central Asia, New Guinea, and other non-Western regions, has published a new, surprising book.

Jimmy is English, but has been living in the Netherlands for decades.
He always traveled to non-Western regions, thinking people there were more authentic than Westerners. Dutch friends asked him, why not get to know our traditional communities and photograph them. But Jimmy didn't think he could find authenticity here.

On came Covid, and he couldn't travel abroad. Bored, he decided to travel around the country and visit those more traditional regions his friends had spoken of. He was amazed, and now says he finds more authenticity here than in any other part of the world he visited.
I could have told him that, I used to visit those same places looking for regional costume bits and bobs. I talked to the people, asked about traditions. Those people know modern life and use it to their advantage, but they maintain many of their old customs.

To express the authenticity Jimmy found, he photographed the people in their traditional dress. We bought the book, it is beautiful.
He also had a (very) short promo video made, and since Dutch costumes are mentioned regularly here, I thought you might like to see it.

Not all costumes you see in the video below are worn every day. In some regions there are still a few ladies who wear traditional dress daily, in most it is only worn when going to church or market, on special occasions, or when performing in a choir, for instance.
Also, it doesn't include all types of Dutch regional dress. But the ones he chose are enough to give you Dutch costume and jewellery overload.

Turn the volume down, here it is, appropriately named "Between the Sea and the Sky":

 

I thought it was a documentary. Until I reread your post. I'll see if I can track down the book. But what I wanted to say was what creative and distinctive looks especially the jewelry. I didn't know about separate breed of horses either.

 

It is all about identity, the expression of which can differ from one village to another.

It is called "Zeeuws trekpaard", a sub-type of the Flemish work horse. It is specific to Zeeland, in the southwest.

 

In Dutch, but nice photos of "Zeeuwse trekpaarden" decorated with flowers for a yearly event, when they parade the horses through the towns and on to the sea:

https://www.zeeuwseankers.nl/verhaal/strao-op-schouwen

The salt water is said to desinfect their hooves after having been in the stables during winter.

 

Interesting. I love how they surround their face with gold rather than a pendant, earrings or other similar standard styles. And the difference in design.

I had to go look this up. It certainly is a magnificent animal.

 

The jewellery around the face is related to the wearing of an 'oorijzer', a (precious) metal construction around the head to fasten the lace cap. Useful in windy coastal areas.
The ends of the oorijzer are decorated, the cap is fastened to it with long decorated pins, and pendants hang from the oorijzer ends rather than from the ears, that are usually hidden underneath the lace cap.
They do wear pendants, brooches and necklaces though. Bracelets and rings too.

Silver and gold oorijzer from Scheveningen, near The Hague:


A lady from West Friesland, north of Amsterdam. You can see her gold oorijzer though the lace:


The West Friesland cap doesn't cover the ears completely, so the ladies wear earrings as well.

 

Wow, wow, wow!!! The video for the book is a marvel,
I could watch an entire looong film with such beautiful scenes
The horses are so beautiful too, a long love of mine

 

I just noticed, there is also a Frisian horse in the video. Love Frisian horses.

 

It is way too short, isn't it, waaay too short.

 

Such an interesting theme!
Thank you very much for sharing this with us.
Here in Flanders people seem to have had much less variety in traditional costumes...I only know of some special canival costumes is some regions. I wonder why there would be such a difference in costume tradition between Belgium and its neighbors like France and the Netherlands?

 

There was some variety in Belgium, but I agree, not as much as in neighbouring countries. Your other neighbour, Germany, also has a great variety.

 

That first picture is Frederik the Great, isn't it? From the Netherlands. I have always been a fan and recognized him right away.

 

WOW!!!!! They ALL look STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!! Did you mention the name of the book.....Yes I did! The name of the video is the name of one of his books!!!! And he has QUITE a website!!

 

I think it is. He has been called the most beautiful horse in the world.

Frisian horses are the rock stars of the equestrian world. Nice and friendly rock stars though, they don't wreck hotel rooms (that I know of...).
Their cousins, the Groningen or Groningse horses, are also very beautiful, but they are not as hairy. Sturdy and beautiful build, like the Frisians, and the same nice personalities.
I saw in a documentary that the Amish are now buying Groningen horses.

 

I probably posted this one before, but I'm sure no one objects to seeing it again.
The epitomy of Frisian culture, a Frisian couple in traditional dress, in a 'sjees' carriage race, the 'sjees' drawn by two Frisian horses:


You probably risk your life in a sjees race, it is such a dainty thing:

 

Don't know why the race appeared twice, can't delete it either. Ah well, it is beautiful.