Figure 1.-- |
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The 1940s was a very difficult year for Dutch families. The Germans during Wold War II occupied the Netherlands (May 1940). The defeat of the Dutch Army was accomplished in only a few days and except in Rotterdam very little damage done. Except for Jewish families, Dutch families were not at first greatly affected. As the War dragged on, shortages of food and consumer goods like clothes and shoes developed. In this enviroment there was virtually no change in fashion, sty;es from the 1930s persisted. While little damage was done during the German 1940 offensive. the same was not the case with the Allied liberation. The Allies liberated the Netherlands south and west of the Rhine (September-October 1944), but the failure of Operation Market Garden left the Dutch beyond the Rhine still in German hands. Abd to punish the Dutch for their Allied sympathies, the Germans cut off food supplies. By the times the Allies finally crossed the Rhine and reached the Dutch (March 1944), they were starving. The immeditate post-War years afyer linration, continued to be diddicult with clothing scarce and families without adequate incomes. This did not begin to chnge until the end of the decade with the Marshall Pln (1948) and the first tenative steps toward European integration.
Here we see four Dutch siblings in 1940. The year of course is when the NAZIs invaded and occupied the Netherlands (May 1940). We do not know if the picture was taken before or aftyer the invasion. Unfortunately we do not know their name and where they were from. Nor do we know much about the family. We would guess that they cam from a comfortable, but not particularly affluent family. They look to be about 3-11 years of age. The oldest boy wears a short pants suit. Their sister wears a dress with a little jacket and a hairbow. The two youngest boys wear sailor suits. The youngest boy wears a button-on sailor suit. The older boy wears kneesocks with high-top shoes. The other three wear long stockings with closed-toe sandals. Notice the round garters on the long stockings
This family portrait was taken in Zijtaart during 1944. We do not know just when, but it looks like it was before the Allied liberation of the southern Netherlands (September-October 1944), perhaps before D-Day (June 1944). It is the family of Jan Raaijmakers. This is a prominent Catholic family with many children. We know their names and their ages (because their dates of birth are specified). One boy, Marinus, was apparently adopted.
The family is beautifully and formally dressed--perhaps for an anniversary or birthday celebration. The two older sons (Marinus
and Piet) wear long trouser suits with white shirts and neckties. The younger children--Dien, Riek, Jan and An all wear long stockings and, for the most part, black low-cut shoes. Notice the dressy white handkerchief in Jan's breast pocket. Notice also the rather briefly cut short trousers, necessitating thigh-length long stockings. We are told
by Dutch authorities that long stockings for older boys had mostly gone out of style in Dutch cities but persisted in rural areas and small towns, especially Catholic towns, which believed in a greater degree of modesty and formality. It looks as though the photo was taken just outside the Raaijmakers rather affluent home.
This family photo, taken in 1946, was in celebration of the silver (25th) wedding anniversary of the van de Ven
family. The date must be summer or spring of 1946 because the trees are in full leaf and there is grass in the place where the family assembled. It is probably just outside their house. I believe the family is Catholic and rural, which partly explains the conservative dress of the two youngest boys in formal suits and long stockings. The family seems to have been fairly prosperous. They well may have been affluent farmers. The family is large. We have the names of the figures given on the website to which you introduced me. Standing in the back row (from left to right) are Tinie, Jan, Toon, Zus, Theo and Wim. Stitting in the front row are Henk (the boy in thigh-length long stockings), then his father, Christ van de Ven, then Dora (the young girl), then their mother (Anna Maria Aarts--her maiden name, I assume), and last, Hary (dressed like his slightly older brother Henk).
This Dutch family had two children, a boy and a girl. They look to be about 5-7 years old. We are a little unsure about the date. We would guess that it was probably taken in the late 1940s, but the early 50s is also possible. The boy looks to be wearing suspender rompers rather than regular shorts, although it is a little difficylt to tell for sure. Rompers were a popular style for boys in France, but we have less information on the Netherlands. The girl wears a Spring dress with a glorious hair bow.
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