Volendam costume

A Dutch male dance costume consisting of three parts which include a long blue striped shirt with red mandarin collar with chain button closure. The bibbed front of the shirt does up with six opaque white buttons. Black woollen wide-legged black trousers with a front flap closure. Trousers such as these were worn primarily by sailors (Volendam was a fishing village). They were worn loose so that they would fill with air and provide buoyancy if a fisherman fell overboard. The pants are held up at the back by a large green cord, and a pocket has been sewn on the right hand side. Two large metal buttons are attached at the front. Originally, these buttons would have been silver coins so that if the wearer spent all his money at the village fair he could break the coins off his trousers and use them in exchange for goods. A black fur cap closed at the back by three green bows. These bows would be changed to black when in the wearer was in mourning.
This, and other related costumes were made when Anna Kerkemeyer was part of a Dutch dance group in the 1960s and 1970s. Dutch folk dancing groups became popular amongst emigrants in the 1950s as a way of keeping Dutch customs and traditions alive. Some of the costumes have been hand embroidered by Anna, and all were made from Dutch-sourced patterns or made in Holland.This costume is evidence of the continuation of culture after migration. The four costumes that make up the donation also illustrate the regional variations of dress in Holland.