Ask an Expat: Wooden shoes, NL popluation, and a little teen fashion advice
japra | Dec 03, 2009 | Comments 18
We picked up a wooden shoe ship kit at the Zuiderzeemuseum this summer. Think Wynken, Blynken and Nod.
Julia asked: Does anyone wear wooden shoes, not for show or for the tourists but maybe in their home? Do you ever see them outside people’s front doors?
Julia, in the almost six months I’ve lived in The Netherlands, I have only seen three people wearing what I recognized as wooden shoes. The first one was a fellow on a bicycle out in the countryside, the second was a city worker here in Den Haag, and the third one was the fabulous caretaker of De Kat windmill at Zaanse Schans. There maybe people who wear wooden soled shoes like the ones Roxi and I purchased at Zaanse Schans (see the last photo of this post). They sure don’t look like traditional wooden shoes! Believe it or not, despite their very firm soles, they are quite comfortable (especially with socks) walking on uneven ground or on cobblestones. BTW, if anyone is looking for some clogs of their own, I found someone on Etsy who sells German clogs. They’re pretty cute.
Christine had an interesting comment from last week’s Wordless Wednesday photo: This looks like out of a Dutch novel. It makes me wonder where all the people are, as the Netherlands is supposed to be highly populated.
Christine, we wonder this too! Coming from England, The Netherlands doesn’t feel as congested to us. But I think most of the population of The Netherlands is clustered in the big cities. According to Wikipedia:
The Netherlands is the 25th most densely populated country in the world, with 395 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,023 sq mi)—or 484 people per square kilometre (1,254/sq mi) if only the land area is counted. It is the most densely populated country in Europe with a population over 1 million. The Randstad is the country’s largest conurbation located in the west of the country and contains the four largest cities: Amsterdam in the province North Holland, Rotterdam and The Hague in the province South Holland, andUtrecht in the province Utrecht. The Randstad alone has a population of 7 million inhabitants and is the 6th largest metropolitan area in Europe.
As of May 2009, The Hague has less than half a million residents. If you compare that to London’s 2006 mid-year estimate of 7.5 million inhabitants, you can see why I don’t feel quite so crushed here ;-)
Dutch teens wear pretty much the same things American teens wear…
Kim (from my hometown in Texas–yay!) wondered: My daughter is interested in what kids wear to school and around town. We do not know a soul there and she is coming from a Catholic school where uniforms were the rule. We need to go for a major shop before we depart to supplement her wardrobe. So far we have bought lots of coats, boots and scarves.
I can totally relate to this question. Every school Roxi has been to thus far has had a uniform. We were surprised to learn that her school here in Den Haag didn’t follow suit!
I asked Roxi to answer this question since she’s closer to the source ;-) Roxi says kids wear jeans, t-shirts, hoodies or casual sweaters, ballet flats, converse shoes, uggs, boots (you can get those here!), sweater dresses with a wide belt and leggings, and the usual favourite teen brands (Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc). I am sure whatever your daughter already has in her wardrobe will be perfect, well perhaps with the addition of layers and winter wear. LOL!
Kim, I’m so excited for you and your daughter! I wish the two of you the very best in your last minute planning and packing. I hope you’ll get in touch when you all get settled in on this side of the pond. In the meantime, if you need anything or have any other questions, please feel free to email me anytime. I’ve enjoyed hearing from you :-)
PS Eat lots of Tex-Mex and BBQ before you leave!!
~
So that’s it for this week. As usual, if you have a question for me, please leave it in the comments and I’ll answer them next week.
Filed Under: Blog • Expat Life • Featured
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
I love clogs I have bought a few pairs here Sanita brand and I have some Dansko from home. They are really comfortable, seems like everyone here wears high heel shoes and boots. Surprising with all the cobblestone but I’m all about comfort. I agree with Roxi we came from uniform school and her school here is optional so you can guess her option is not to wear it. Everyone dresses the same as the states but I find it funny they mix and match and it always looks odd, I guess I’m more of a matchy kinda girl plus they wear the same outfit all week! I guess water is expensive here so bathing and washing clothes is sparse!
LOL, Kathy! I gave up fashion for comfort years ago. But the lovely leather heeled boots here have me thinking again. I’d probably end up spraining an ankle (or breaking my neck!) on the cobblestones, though.
Such interesting questions and responses! I love the countryside photo – it tells more in what is missing than what it there. The school dress style sounds like Maine if you leave out sweater dresses and add a warmer layer. Roxi is going to be such a world citizen; in fact she already is.
Sarah, I can’t wait for better weather! I’m eager to explore the Dutch countryside.
JaPRA, I think you should become world famous like that girl from Julie and Julia for this series – it is excellent! So funny and interesting!
Thanks Emm ;-)
What a great q&a today! I’m surprised you have seen people wearing wooden shoes – I wish I could have seen that guy in the country on his bike – it must have been a scene that could have been from 50 to 100 years ago.
I think it’s interesting that teenagers are wearing similar things! Are they wearing buffalo check shirts there? My daughter loves them and I keep telling her “I did that in the 80s…I don’t want to see it again!”
Julia, I’ve not seen the buffalo checks here! I saw on a fashion site that plaid is back in fashion. I was just telling Roxi about how kilts were popular back in the day. ;-)
Japra, thanks for the link. And you made a good point of everyone likely being clustered in the cities. It must be the same situation in a lot of countries. It’s funny how the kids dress the same everywhere.
Christine, I’ve learned so much about England and the Netherlands these last few years. I really do feel fortunate to have the chance to experience other cultures… even if the fashion isn’t drastically different. LOL!
I’ve often wondered if they were still used too. In the 80s, the German executive chef at the hotel I worked wore them daily; said they were the most comfortable shoes he owned. I doubted it.
Jane, well, I suppose your German chef wore clogs all his life. Me? I’d opt for some really thick rubber soles if I had to be on my feet for so long!
I am in love with the clog boots at the etsy store. I will have to think long and hard about it – but they are fabulous.
I had no idea that Abercombie and Fitch’s slouchy/outdoorsy image reached all the way accross the ocean. Teens are the same everywhere!
LucyLucia, I KNOW! The would be so cute with jeans. I love how you can get them made just for you too. I wonder if they come in black?
I am happy to report that though there is no uniform at Roxi’s school, there is a no sagging jeans rule!
This is such a funny and true discussion: girls everywhere DO look the same, but in a way that I describe as “the same, only different.” My daughter is 13 and goes to a girls’ school here in London, and while the girls all look quite individual, when you see a large group of them, they all blend together: no bright colors, short skirts with leggings, tights underneath, ballet flats, lots of layers. I LOVE looking at them! And costume jewelry: invest in some!
Kristen, those short skirts in London!! I think London gals have a definite look. Some of it is the hair too–those side swept bangs. Oh and the scarf.
Now what about the shorts with fishnet stockings and uggs? Not quite sure about that look ;-)
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There is just something about the wooden shoe that beckons. I suppose they’d have to be a very good fit to be comfortable to wear. but seems like they would insulate well as long as they didn’t get wet and sodden