Figure 1.--This Dutch boy in 1949 wears a Tyrolian outfit with in knit rather than leather. It was normally worn by younger boys than might wear leather shorts or lederhosen. Note that the boy also wears knit kneesocks. |
|
Lederhosen or leather shorts were not common in the Netherlands. In a typical school class during the 1950s-60s, perhaps one boy might wear them. They were more popular in the southern part of the Netherlands where more boys wore lederhosen. Actually in the Netherlands the term "lederhosen" was not commonly used, even though the Dutch language is stronly related to German. Rather the Dutch referred to them as "Tiroler" pants. The Trioler style was of some influence and shorts with the Tiroler look were made in other material such as knits, which were very popular in the Netherlands.
Lederhosen or leather shorts were not common in the Netherlands. In a typical school class during the 1950s-60s, perhaps one boy might wear them. HBC is not sure why they were not very popular. Perhaps they were to associated with Germany. A Dutch boy living in Belgium when visiting his Dutch cousins reports being taunted about wearing his lederhosen. The boys derisively called them "een moffenbroek" (kraut pants). Experiences vary, hhowever, and another Dutch reader a few years later reports wanting a pair of lederhosen. "I was born in 1954 and lived in Amsterdam. I did not wear Lederhosen myself during my schooldays, but a few of my friends in the 1960s did wear them. It was just before Levis became popular. I admired them, two wore a speckige Spaltlederhose, another one a green, shiny Glattlederne."
Lederhosen were more popular in the southern part of the Netherlands where more boys wore Lederhosen. A Dutch reader writes, "Lederhosen were never quite as popular in Holland, at least not in the northern provinces that are home to the Dutch part of my family. I have heard that in the 1950s and 60s they were moderately popular in the provinces of Limburg and Noord-Brabant i.e. those that
are contiguous to Dutch-speaking Belgium (and share its dialects)."
Lederhosen in the Netherlands were seen as a Germand Austrian style. World war II thus affected the popularity of Lederhosen. Ditch boys did not want to wear German-looking pants. This gradually began to change, especially by the 1960s. A Dutch reader writes, "Some Dutch boys were wearing leather shorts in the 1980s. You could still see boys, up to 14-15years of age wearing them. Even today, aspecially in small towns near Germany, little boys, 5-6 years old, might sometimes wear leather shorts."
Actually in the Netherlands the term "lederhosen" was not commonly used, even though the Dutch language is stronly related to German. Rather the Dutch referred to them as "Tiroler" pants. They were of course named for the Tyrol, the area of Austria wherre Lederhosen were so common.
The Tyrolian pants most well known were of course leather lederhosen. Some were made for younger boys in knit. They were made in the same style as leather leerhosen with decorative suspender fronts.
Some Dutch boys wore the leather lederhosen commonly worn in Germany and called Tyrolean shorts by the Dutch. HBC is not sure when Durch boys began wearing them. HBC has noted noted them before Worl War II. Perhaps they were introduced during the German World War II occupation (1940-44/45). Small numbers of boys were wearing them by the l950s. I'm not sure what age boys wore them.
The Trioler style was of some influence and shorts with the Tiroler look were made in other material such as knits, which were very popular in the Netherlands. A Dutch reader tells us, "About lederhosen in the Netherlands, they were not common at all. I mean the real thing made of leather. Little boys very often were dressed in Tyrolean-style
clothes, but they nearly always were made of wool, often knitted by grandma."
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Dutch pages:
[Maiken Island]
[Dutch choirs]
[Dutch scouts]
[Dutch boys clothing]
[Dutch school uniform]
[Dutch boys bangs]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing national pages:
[Return to the Main Dutch short pants page]
[Return to the Main country lederhosen page]
[Australia]
[Belgium]
[England]
[France]
[Germany]
[Ireland]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[Korea]
[Mexico]
[Scotland]
[United States]