The Dutch cap is a traditional headdress worn by women in the Netherlands, with the Volendam cap being the most recognizable. It is made of white cotton, lace, or muslin and is worn on special occasions to indicate social class. The design varies by province, with some having long brims or cords to tie under the chin. The nursing cap is speculated to be based on the Volendam cap, and some hospitals even use a similar design for their nurses’ hats.
A Dutch cap is a headdress usually associated with traditional Dutch women’s clothing. The cap fits around the woman’s head, with triangular pleats on each side. It can be made of white cotton, lace or muslin. This particular design originates from Volendam, a province in the Netherlands.
Called a hul, this cloth headdress completes the female outfit of Volendam. The Dutch cap covers the woman’s ears and rises from her crown. The edges of it are usually coiled to an exaggerated width, represented as wings on top of the head. It fits well, but looks so roomy that it becomes the most prominent accessory in Volendam women’s clothing.
These wide brimmed white caps can be seen worn by women on special occasions, holidays or on Sundays. The women then change into a simpler cloth cap on ordinary days of the week. Although these caps are used to indicate the celebration of special events, they are also used to identify the wearer’s social class. The Dutch cap is not only used as an ornament, but also as an implication of its wearer.
The Dutch have a wide variety of fashions and they differ depending on the province. Hats also vary from region to region. For women, some caps have long, shoulder-length brims and others have a larger, more pointed top. Still others have cords to tie around the chin.
The Volendam cap is generally recognized as a Dutch cap, but there are many other styles of headgear that are part of Dutch culture. In North Limburg, caps have ribbons and tassels, which are intended to distinguish the wearer’s social status. In Zeeland, headdresses are extravagant and large. There are also provinces with simpler cap designs, such as those of Marken. It is rare to see these caps in use, except during festivities and celebrations.
There are distinctive similarities between the Volendam-based Dutch caps and the white caps worn by nurses. A common nurse’s hat is made of a white cloth with two folded flaps. It is speculated that the nursing cap style is based on the traditional Dutch Volendam cap.
In fact, the St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing based their nurses’ hats on Dutch caps. The hospital promoted nurse may wear an organdy cap with typical side pleats. The cap is sloped in a downward direction from front to back to achieve the same general appearance as Dutch caps.
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