Navigating Dutch Realities: Dutch Heritage Icons

Wooden Shoes, Windmills, and Tulips: Icons of Dutch Heritage

Ah, the quintessential Dutch imagery – tulip fields stretching as far as the eye can see, windmills towering over the landscape, and yes, the unmistakable ‘klomp’ or wooden clogs. But do we all really walk around in clogs? And what’s the deal with those funny hats women sometimes wear?

Wooden Shoes

While it’s true that wooden shoes, or clogs, were once ubiquitous among Dutch farmers, their practicality extends beyond the fields. Today, hobby gardeners find them indispensable for keeping their feet dry and comfortable while trudging through muddy terrain. As for those quirky hats? They’re part of the traditional female costumes that vary from city to city and region to region, adding a touch of cultural flair to festive occasions.

Windmills

Windmills are not just picturesque relics of the past – they’re integral to Dutch life. With the Netherlands’ abundance of waterways and low-lying terrain, windmills serve a multitude of functions, from pumping water out to sea to milling grains and sawing wood. Thankfully, these iconic structures have not been entirely replaced by modern technology, as they continue to play a vital role in water management, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. If you’re keen to witness their majesty firsthand, be sure to visit Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Rotterdam, or Zaanse Schans, just north of Amsterdam.

Tulips 

And what about those vibrant tulip fields that adorn postcards and travel brochures? Contrary to popular belief, tulips are not native to the Netherlands; they were originally cultivated in Turkey and Iran. It was Dutch traders who introduced tulips to the Netherlands during the height of the country’s Golden Age, sparking a craze known as “Tulip Mania.” Today, the Netherlands remains one of the world’s largest producers of tulips, with millions of bulbs blooming each spring in a riot of colors across the countryside.

The collaboration between Natural Bulbs and ParkinsonNL

The tulip is the symbol of Parkinson’s. In 2005, the tulip was adopted as the official symbol of Parkinson’s disease at the 9th World Conference on Parkinson’s Disease in Luxembourg. However, the flower had been informally linked to the disease for more than twenty years before. In 1980, a Dutch horticulturist named J.W.S. Van der Wereld – who suffered from Parkinson’s – developed a new red-white variant of the tulip. That is why ParkinsonNL has developed a great promotion together with Natural Bulbs around this beautiful tulip!

So, while wooden shoes, windmills, and tulips may epitomize Dutch heritage, their stories are as diverse and dynamic as the country itself, weaving together tales of innovation, tradition, and cultural exchange.

Written by Flowently