Drie mannen in Volendamse klederdracht zittend op een kade c. 1900 - 1910

G. Hidderley captured this image of three men in Volendamse clothing, using photography, a relatively new medium at the time. This image gives us a glimpse into the social fabric of the small fishing village of Volendam, in the Netherlands. The men are wearing traditional clothing, which marks their identity within the community and, more broadly, their Dutch identity. These garments, beyond their practical use, speak volumes about cultural pride and historical connection. This image also raises questions about the role of men in Dutch society at the time, particularly within the fishing industry. The clothing may also signal a collective identity rooted in the local traditions of Volendam, potentially resisting the homogenization brought about by broader national or global forces. In this photograph the labor, identity, and community are all interwoven. Photographs like this one invite reflection on cultural preservation and the complex ways in which we negotiate our identities in a rapidly changing world.