Weaving in the Netherlands

摘要

The Journal's readership is international and we would like to share with everyone what is going on in our textiles disciplines in different countries. For our very first article, we are delighted to showcase our friends in the Netherlands. If you are interested in submitting an article about spinning, weaving and/or dyeing in your part of the world, please do get in touch with the relevant editor (see page 3). We would be delighted to hear from you! Until the 1950s there were many professional weaving mills in the Netherlands, among others for manufacture of curtain fabrics and household textiles, and also for processing of rush for carpets. In addition there were several weaving mills that knotted and wove tapestries. Of course there were also many homeworkers and basket weavers. Much of this industry disappeared due to the rise of the low-wage countries. At the same time, the arrival of household appliances and smaller families gave women more time. Dutch law stipulated until the 1970s that women had to stop working as soon as they got married. Many discovered the charm of the weaving craft and started practising it as a hobby.