The beautiful province of Zeeland in The Netherlands

The province of Zeeland consists of a number of large islands in the South-West of The Netherlands. [Enhanced & colorized] Years spanning 1919 - 1927.

Part 1 of this film shows the simple and hard rural life of its inhabitants more than a century ago in 1919.

At the time nearly all of them wore the traditional dress. Characteristic are the two small golden reflectors that are worn at the side of the women's caps. Some viewers have jokingly brandmarked them as satellite solar panels.

A tradition was to "coupe" horse's tails and beautify them with ribbons to be shown-off at local horse shows. Zeeland was and is primarily an agricultural area of The Netherlands.

In the film women can be seen picking various fruit including goose berries. Zeeland has had a long fight with the sea. Dikes and dunes often were not high or strong enough causing Zeeland to be flooded often during many centuries until in the 1960's the Dutch government executed the "Delta plan". This involved closing-off the waters between the islands from the sea by means of large dams and huge sea locks.

In recent years it has become apparent that this is prohibiting fish like salmon to swim up the Dutch and German rivers to sperm. Therefore some of the sealockes are now opened slightly to let them pass through.

Part 1

Part 2 of this film shows the more pleasant times when its inhabitants engage in all sorts of community games, more than a century ago in 1919.

Popular community activities and games were haymaking, decorating horses, "ringsteken" (poking a stick through a ring while on horseback or on a horse and cart), "bolderen" (almost a cross between curling and the French "Jeu de Boules") and archery, but in a way that you have probably never seen before.

Part 2 - 1919

Part 3 starts with a nice view of the beach and town of Flushing (Vlissingen) on the island of Walcheren. It is followed by a view on Zoutelande, a village on the south coast of Walcheren. The characteristic church is still there.

The next shots show the town of Veere followed by footage showing Zeeland's local dress and particular rituals like picnic-ing in the fields, courting and how men show their dislikes for a particular girl by placing a straw man outside her door.