Wonderful color postcards of the Netherlands, 1890s

This photo collection shows color images of the lifestyle, windmills, canals, cities, and countryside of the late 1890s Netherlands. The pictures are created using the Photochrom process which is a technique that applies colors on black and white images.

The Netherlands did not industrialize as rapidly as Belgium after 1830, but it was prosperous enough. Historians argue that certain government policies facilitated the emergence of a national economy in the 19th century.

They included the abolition of internal tariffs and guilds, a unified coinage system, modern methods of tax collection, standardized weights and measures, and the building of many roads, canals, and railroads.

However, compared to Belgium, which was leading in industrialization on the Continent, the Netherlands moved slowly. Possible explanations for this difference are the higher costs due to geography and high wages and the emphasis of entrepreneurs on trade rather than industry.

For example, in the Dutch coastal provinces, agricultural productivity was relatively high. Hence, industrial growth arrived relatively late – after 1860 – because incentives to move to labor-intensive industries were quite weak.

However, the provinces of North Brabant and Overijssel did industrialize, and they became the most economically advanced areas of the country.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Girls on Marken Island.

As in the rest of Europe, the 19th century saw the gradual transformation of the Netherlands into a modern middle-class industrial society. The number of people employed in agriculture decreased, while the country made a strong effort to revive its stake in the highly competitive shipping and trade business.

The Netherlands lagged behind Belgium until the late 19th century in industrialization and caught up around 1920. Major industries included textiles and (later) the great Philips industrial conglomerate.

Rotterdam became a major shipping and manufacturing center. Poverty slowly declined as begging largely disappeared along with steadily improving working conditions for the population.

The Netherlands remained one of the most tolerant countries in Europe towards religious belief, although conservative Protestants objected to the liberalization of the Dutch Reformed Church during the 19th century and faced opposition from the government when they tried to establish separate communities (Catholics and other non-Protestants were left unmolested by Dutch authorities). Some moved to the United States as a consequence, but as the century drew to a close, religious persecution had totally ceased.

The late 19th century saw a cultural revival. The Hague School brought a revival of realist painting, 1860–1890. The world-famous Dutch painter was Vincent van Gogh, but he spent most of his career in France. Literature, music, architecture, and science also flourished.

color photos photochroms netherlands

A canal in Amsterdam.

color photos photochroms netherlands

The great market, Nijmegen.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Children on Marken Island.

color photos photochroms netherlands

A canal in the Hague.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Town Hall, Haarlem.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Amsterdam Gate, Haarlem.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Catharine Bridge and windmill, Haarlem.

color photos photochroms netherlands

The Town Hall and great market, Nijmegen.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Belvedere, Nijmegen.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Arcade, Rotterdam.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Two bridges on the Meuse, Rotterdam.

color photos photochroms netherlands

A canal in Rotterdam.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Coolvest, Rotterdam.

color photos photochroms netherlands

The road to the Scheveningen.

color photos photochroms netherlands

The beach at Scheveningen.

color photos photochroms netherlands

The beach at Scheveningen.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Boats on the beach at Scheveningen.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Beachgoers and the Kursaal, Scheveningen.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Oude Gracht Bakkerbrug, Utrecht.

color photos photochroms netherlands

The Witte Huis, Rotterdam.

color photos photochroms netherlands

A park in Utrecht.

color photos photochroms netherlands

A pond in Arnhem.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Beekhuizen, Arnhem.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Janssingel, Arnhem.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Water tower, Delft.

color photos photochroms netherlands

The Knights’ Hall in the Hague.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Cathedral interior, Rotterdam.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Inside a home on Marken Island.

color photos photochroms netherlands

The Binnenhof and Court Pond at The Hague.

color photos photochroms netherlands

Dam Square, Amsterdam.

color photos photochroms netherlands

color photos photochroms netherlands

(Photo credit: Library of Congress).

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