Spakenburg Diva in the Glass House

Since 2000, Het Wilde Oog (an artist duo comprising Hans Lemmerman and Inge van Run) has photographed the very last women wearing traditional folk costumes in locations across the Netherlands—from Vlissingen to Lelystad and from Enschede to The Hague. Trained as theatre makers, the duo adds an artistic dimension to the typically historical or tourist-oriented perspective on traditional dress through staged photographic series and video performances. The framing that enhances the imagery was designed by artist Tom van Campenhout (b. 1958).

Corrie Koelewijn, Wijmpje Koelewijn, and Hendrikje Kuis formed the group known as the Spakenburgse Diva’s (Spakenburg Divas). Between 2000 and 2018, the trio achieved something remarkable in both social and cultural terms. Through their traditional attire, these sisters-in-law proudly demonstrated their connection to a long-standing tradition, while also possessing the courage to embrace (contemporary) art. In 2009, Het Wilde Oog created a photo series inside the futuristic Glazen Huis (Glass House), a structure made of 80 cubic metres of glass. This fairytale-like house stood on Koningin Emmalaan in Leerdam from 2001 to 2009.

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