New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
GLlMPSES OF HOLLAND.
PICTURESQUE FISHING VILLAGES WITH
LOCAL COLOR-STUDIES OF cos
TUNE AND LIFE ON THE
ZUYDER ZEE.
Voiendam. September 8.


A days relaxation in the open country was
almost indispensable after the uproar and ex-
element Of the Dutch carnival. and have
found it in what is undoubtedly the most pictu
rescue fishing village in Holland. Omnscient
Baedekpr dismisses Voendam with 4 single
neag-e line. and in this way eXempts it from
the hurry -bury of tourist travel Artists dis
covered il long ago and converted il into a
favOrite sketching- place. agreeing among them
selves to say as little possible about its pct-
uresQue charms not TO divert to it the ex-
cursion traffic from the island Of Marker.
Every summer there is a small colony Of art
students in Voendam. practising ulCn fisher
folk in quaint costume. ed-tiled roofs. brown
haycocks. the windmill behind the port. and
fishing boats heading for the open sea me
tourists go to zaandam and Marken in swarms.
but return to Amsterdam without seeing Volen-
dam, the ideal fishing haven Of the Zuyder Zee;
and consequently the art students remain in
undsturbed possession Of the few habitable
lodgings and the natives unspciled by close
contact with the great world.
The pilgrimage to Zaandam, with its hundreds
Of wndmills and with what remains of the hut
Of Peter the Great-twO rooms with loft above
them-I had already made; and had also taken
the usual excursion route to Marken StrollinS
IN the way through the dairy village Of Brock.
with its reputation for cleanliness next to sodii-
ness, and, glancing at the quaint old houses,
stadhus tower and Church of Monnikendam.
These places all travel-worn with daily pro-
cessions Of tourists and Marker alone offers
characteristic effects of color IN the costumes OF
the fishermen's families II is a shingle Of sand
dune in the Zuyder Zee with five or six clusters
of fishermen's houses. The centre Of the island
.I he a ,xa
which protects il against the swirling waters
outside From the top Of the dixie the visitor
sees fifty or more low frame cottages. painted
green. blue brown and black and covered with
red tiles Three four brick houses an uhpre-
q fleet of fishing boats complete the outfit OF
Marken with its thousand fisher folk 1t is a
primitive community. with life and customs OF
It's own There are signs Of thrift and comfort
In the tidy cottages but the costumes Of the ten
ants are old-fashioned. the interiors are plain
and rough. and in front Of the doors are wooden
Shoes or sabots. which are only worn outside
Dribbles of water are bridged here ana there oy
q single plank. low paiisade Of boards IN
front of the door or rough oa!ustrade ana
platform at the end Of a house are the closest
approaches to external ornament whhe INDOORS
the walls are adorned with the china. spoons
and cutlery in ordinary use.
Simple and quaint as Marken 49, IL "ouiu nave
little interest for visitors II the haroy hShe'iiie
and their wives and children were no, arrayeo
in characteristic costumes The men wear tight
brown waistcOats, OF Jackets, fastened Win
snowy buttons to wide, ba6gy knicKeroocheis
The collars are rolled low, as 70 reveal d reo
undershirt, and above the wooden SHOES die
dark blue stockings A cap of blue or brown.
red tie and pipe complete the outnt of fun
working dress The women wear skirts Oh Darn
striped stuff part of the way down. with the re-
maipder of blue. with a brown band at the DOT
tom The body is brown covered with manu-
embroidery in bright coors. The sleeves ifo'h
shouider to elbow are striped with black ana