Twee mannen in Volendamse klederdracht staand bij een sloot met op de achtergrond een molen c. 1900 - 1910

This photograph, by G. Hidderley, captures two men in traditional Volendam attire, standing by a canal with a windmill in the background. The clothing is particularly striking: loose-fitting trousers and wooden shoes, all testifying to a specific cultural identity. Consider the work involved in producing such garments, most likely by hand or on simple looms. The sturdy, practical design speaks volumes about the lives of the wearers, closely tied to the land and its demands. And the clogs, each pair carefully carved from wood. They are a perfect example of vernacular craft, evolving over generations to meet the needs of a community. Photographs like this one were often made as tourist souvenirs, yet also served to document and preserve traditions in a rapidly changing world. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images can be rich with social and cultural significance, when we consider the materials, processes, and context that shaped them.