Burgerweeshuis dress

Dresses

Bicolored uniform
The girls from the Amsterdam orphanage (Burgerweeshuis) wore a distinctive uniform until 1919 that made them instantly recognizable as wards of the city. Initially, the costume consisted of a red-and-white dress, but it was quickly replaced by a red-and-black version because the white fabric became dirty quickly. Both the boys’ jackets and the girls’ dresses were red on the left and black on the right – the colors of the Amsterdam city coat of arms. This unique design made the children easily identifiable both inside and outside the orphanage, ensuring they could be closely monitored. Unfortunately, it also had a stigmatizing effect, as they were instantly recognized as orphans at a glance.

Image: 1884. © Collection Amsterdam Museum

 

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