For Sepia Saturday this week I show you a postcard of a small group of Dutch children in traditional dress who appear to have been told to smile for the camera. They come from the island of Marken in North Holland.
Marken wasn't always an island but became separated from the mainland in the 13th century during a storm. It has always been low lying and prone to flooding so traditionally the houses are built on stilts. In 1957 the island has been connected to the mainland once more, by a causeway, but it retains its traditional ways as tourism has become a main source of income.
The cards, along with 10 others in the series, came in the folder above. They were produced by Nenke & Ostermaier who held one of the patents for the Photochromie process, first invented in 1874. They produced many cards for the UK and the USA before starting publishing under their own name.
PS I've just realised that Postcard has some very similar cards. It must be a case of great minds thinking alike. :)
It's quite remarkable that two people should put up cards showing children from Marken this week. It looks a different way of life. I wonder if they dress like that today.
ReplyDeleteTheir little caps are adorable. Marken must have been a popular destination for these postcards to circulate...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful costume and colours. Thank you for explaining the Postcardy connection; that explains why I had that déjà vu feeling.
ReplyDeleteThe postcards from Marken on both sites this week are great. The smiling faces on this one are hard to resist. I love the traditional dress, and the houses are beautifully picturesque. I would love to visit there someday.
ReplyDeleteLovely girls! I have a necklace that was my sister's really, of those little dutch shoes, it's white and blue and made out of ceramic I think...I've always wondered why they always looked like that in jewerly then the real brown or tan wood like they really wore?
ReplyDeleteI wonder whether any of the children in our posts are the same.
ReplyDeleteBonny Lasses & Frocks.Also, The Colour Effect On The Photos Are Very Atmospheric.
ReplyDeleteThe way they dress makes me think of how cold it must have been there.
ReplyDeleteI visited Marken in 1970, and I think even then it was dominated by the tourist dollar. I recall asking my mother whether they always dressed like that. She laughed and said nowadays mostly for the tourists.
ReplyDeleteThose girls in the first photo are adorable. I think it's interesting that two of you shared photographs of children from Marken this week.
ReplyDeleteI too think it's uncanny that two of you posted cards from marken that were so similar.
ReplyDeleteNancy Javier
Ladies of the grove
This is such a charming postcard, Sheila. Looks like a place I'd love to visit!
ReplyDeleteGreat postcards! And there's no such thing as too many Dutch children!
ReplyDeleteThese are so cool ... I think that they would be fun to frame and display.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by to visit,
Kathy M.
I thought that maybe you and Postcardy had met for hot cocoa (Droste) and decided then that you should both post something from Marken.
ReplyDeleteYes I noticed the concentration on all things Dutch : strange how prompt pictures can send people off along similar trails. And what interesting trails you make them.
ReplyDeleteI too am entranced. I will definitely be adding Marken to my list of places to explore both online and in person!
ReplyDeleteso, once more, I'll state just how much I love these cards.
ReplyDelete:)~
HUGZ