Ôns Boeregoed: traditional costumes, traditions and dialects of Zeeland (Netherlands)

Zeeland

Zeeland is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south-western region. The capital of Zeeland is Middelburg. Zeeland is famous for the mussels and oysters from Yerseke, the dikes, dunes and the Delta Plan to prevent flooding (Zeeland lies below see-level) and also the traditional costumes.

Islands

Ages ago, Zeeland consisted of a lot of islands. Because the people were separated by water, each island developed its own typical costume. In the course of ages, dams and reclamation projects connected the islands. However the differences between the costumes didn’t disappear. Nowadays the costumes are mostly out of fashion. Only a few elderly people still wear them today.

Ons Boeregoed

In 1989, a big festival took place in Kruiningen. On this occasion many people were wearing traditional costumes. After the event, some people realised that it wouldn’t be long before the clothes and the knowledge about them would be completely lost. They came up with the plan to start an association preserving this cultural heritage of Zeeland. The association was called ‘Ôns Boeregoed’. The association proved to be a spectacular succes! In 2000 it was possible to dress up 300 people.

Knowledge of costumes

The association intends to preserve the culture of Zeeland, especially the traditional costumes. Great attention is paid how to wear the costumes, how to keep them in repair and how to make replicas of very old costumes. The members of our association learn how to dress themselves in the costumes. Amongst the members there are skilled people who have the necessary knowledge about the costumes and their history.

Groups

Ôns Boeregoed has the disposal of a choir, a theatrical company, folk-dancers, people that show and explain about the costumes and people that study the history and dialects of Zeeland. We give short and long varied presentations at various events, both to educate and entertain.