The women of Spakenburg are keeping the traditions alive

Unbeknownst to many, there are still places in Holland where age old traditions are alive and well and where practices from centuries ago are thriving well into the 21st century.

Holland, a small country here in western Europe, looms big in the global arena when it comes to liberal approaches to many issues which are still taboo in many countries such as abortion, same sex marriage, soft drugs, prostitution and euthanasia. Against this backdrop, I’m sure that it will come as a huge surprise if not shock to many that there are still very conservative and ultra-religious communities here where the practices, traditions and way of life observed are from many centuries ago.

I am lucky to live close by to one such place. Within cycling distance from my home is the fishing village of Spakenburg and this place is pretty unique because the women there live up to their age old traditions. They go about their daily lives in traditional clothes. There are other aspects of life in Spakenburg which are still too traditional as well such as strict observance of Sunday as the day of the Lord. The people of Spakenburg go to church twice and on special religious holidays, even three times. All establishments are closed on Sundays, even the ice cream bar or cafes. And local football games which in typical villages are held on Sundays are held on Saturdays out there.

I love going to Spakenburg on a Saturday when there is an open market because I would normally see these women doing their groceries or cycling to the market. There is also a museum that can be visited that explains their culture and traditions. To know more about this museum, here is the link: http://www.museumspakenburg.nl/

Other useful links are the following:
http://www.dd-spakenburg.nl/
To go there by public transport, you can check the schedules of the trains and buses through this link: www.9292ov.nl

When I visited the museum some five years ago with other Filipino friends, that was the time when I really learned more about their way of life, about their traditions, about their clothing which was quite a revelation because they would for instance, have a new set of clothes for the entire family when a family member dies. They also observe a very strict mourning period and everything in the house would be painted in black.

The women of Spakenburg are resilient and strong, known for their dedication to family and for keeping their houses extremely tidy. In the old days when the men went to the sea, chances are that they may never return. It is for that reason that these women had to be strong for their families.

I would definitely recommend a visit to Spakenburg if ever you find yourself in Holland. In summer, there are plenty of cultural activities out there to see. The village is very pleasant to visit. I love the harbor with the view of the docked traditional Spakenburg wooden boats. There is also a windmill that can be visited daily except on Sundays.

From Amsterdam, you can take the train to Amersfoort and there is a regular bus connection that will take you to Spakenburg.

Here are more pictures from our usual visit to the village.

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