Holiday In Holland (1950s)

[Music] this is the land of the windmills the ancient pumps that Holland has used since the 13th century in taking more than 3,000 square miles of land from the sea tulips flourish in the reclaimed soil of the poers back of the dkes and that's why their culture has been a major Dutch industry for years when they are in full bloom the blossoms are picked to produce a quality bul [Music] more than $35 million worth of bulbs are exported annually to bring their beauty to other lands note particularly how accurate the Dutch Growers are in classifying buls for formal planting so that gardeners can depend on the color effects wanted and the variety of the flowers the island of Markin forbids Automobiles and discourages bicycles once it was the home of fisherman then in 1932 a great Dyke was completed across the mouth of the zider Z the old salt arm or the sea became a freshwater [Music] lake wearing their photogenic oldtime costumes helps business when there are tourists around and incidentally those who know traditional Dutch dress can tell at a glance exactly where the people live ironically these people who have fought against flooding waters for centur centries worry more about a shortage of water than anything else because Holland is so low and Wells tend to become so brackish that the housewife's passion for cleanliness often poses a [Music] problem here a typical housewife goes about her chores proclaiming by means of her dress and her cap that she is married is a resident of this particular town and goes on on Sunday to a certain Church all of that information is perfectly plain to those who know in the rural Villages such as VanDam boys until the age of six are dressed like little girls so there is always some doubt about the small [Music] fry wooden shoes aren't as common as many believe and besides they would make it quite a trick to do some things [Music] their Elders contemplate the scene and probably wonder about tomorrow's fishing for here are the tlers preparing for the sea from which thousands earn a [Music] livelihood close to the Sea Coast back of the dyes vast tulip fields may be found adjacent to busy industrial areas of the city [Music] only a native can pronounce the name of this town properly it is shenan and during the war the Dutch underground used it as a password because Nazi agents couldn't pronounce it in the small city of GAA is the Cathedral of St John built in the 15th century and one of the finest specimens of medieval architecture in all of Europe it is famed for its beautifully panel interior and for its 64 stained glass windows by forgotten Craftsmen they are the Marvel of all who see them products of the golden age that produced rebron rise Dale and vermier the ancient Town Hall of Harlem looks down upon a typical flower market filling the street with color during the summer months because the people of the Netherlands are fond of flowers and if they cannot grow them they will buy them the typical customer will enjoy them at home and the Dutch City home is very much like any American Home there in Madu Oram the inevitable tile rooftops and sharp Gables seem to be those of homes and small business establishments in the older sections of a town but the camera discloses it to be an exhibit in a park honoring a hero of the underground who saved the city every Friday from Spring through fall sightseers and cheese buyers crowd the markets where we in Almar Porters in traditional dress and wearing the hats of their Guild carry the cheeses to the plaza for the inspection of buyers after a purchase they may be rolled aboard a barge that will carry them to a Seaport zort in the same area is the seashore Resort of Amsterdam people who bring their youngsters and enjoy the North Sea surf despite the chill of the water which even the Summer sun cannot bring above 60° [Music] Amsterdam is sometimes called the Venice of the north because of its Maze of canals and nearby is part of the old zider Z so much of which has been drained to increase the land area the great Dutch Navigators and seamen of the 17th century left the heritage of a love for boats and so it isn't surprising that yachting is a popular sport among the people of a maritime Nation such as the Netherlands friends with Winter's freezing weather a sort of national paralysis of work sets in schools close and many adults take a day off Holland gets out on the ice covered Waters where the wind driven yacht on steel Runners can skim the ice with thrilling [Music] speed it may not be long before the this Inland sea is a thing of the past for this broad Frozen area near the village of VanDam is to be cut off by dikes and pumped dry meanwhile the Dutch people get a full measure of fun out of winter sports and there will always be skating it is the youngsters of today who are going to see great changes in the years ahead the people of the zider eve Villages cling to Old customs and dress largely to attract customers for the trinkets they sell they easily persuade skaters to forsake the ice and watch a traditional dance and so the freezing months keep only the old folks indoors winter time is fun time but cold weather or warm a holiday brings out the most elaborate bonnets people of this area known as zon also celebrate their recovery of homes and lands inundated by Holland's most disastrous flood a few short years [Music] ago yachts in the harbor dress ship for the occasion and it is plain that this is more than an ordinary holiday for feminine finery is an Evidence these young women wear Bonnets of fine handmade lace which may have been handed down through several Generations [Music] the flower decorated floats in the parade would remind a Californian of New Year's Day in Pasadena except that here the rose is replaced by the Tulip and the Dalia a combination of colors no less Vivid but without the heavy scent of the Rose it is a very special occasion and calls for pageantry and [Music] celebration and by the way the lace caps of these Fair Maids reveal that they are from VanDam [Music] there is an air of expectancy of awaiting a big moment climaxing a day of joyous festivity and here it is the Royal Coach within it her majesty Queen Juliana and Prince barard with the young princesses the finale of a holiday in Holland a