Dutch swan song in Volendam

by Silva Wischeropp

This dark, mystical nature shot right by the sea in the former small fishing village of Volendam in North Holland is captivating with its cloudy drama and gloomy mood.
A white swan swims close to the seashore, lending the motif a poetic atmosphere.
Volendam is the most famous fishing village in the Netherlands (Holland) and is located around 20 kilometres from the enchanting city of Amsterdam. For many Amsterdam tourists, it is a favourite, authentic destination to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the city and enjoy the endless expanse of the sea.

The original name of the village was Vollendam. Volendam is located where the small river E or IJe flowed into the Zuiderzee in the Middle Ages. In 1357, the village of Vollendam was created by the citizens of Edam when the E was diked. The village was quickly colonised by farmers and fishermen. Volendam has certain customs and traditions that set it apart from the rest of the Netherlands and the population has its own dialect, known as Volendams. During the Reformation, the village remained loyal to the Roman Catholic Church, in contrast to the immediate neighbourhood. In the middle of the 20th century, Volendam is said to have had the highest number of Roman Catholic ordinations per square kilometre in the Netherlands and even the highest number of missionaries per square kilometre in the world. Secularisation has put an end to this, but Volendam remains a centre of Roman Catholic devotional customs.