The Netherlands, a country in north Western Europe, is known for a flat landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. Amsterdam, the capital, is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the house where Jewish diarist Anne Frank hid during WWII. Canal side mansions and a trove of works from artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer remain from the city’s 17th-century “Golden Age.”

Dutch Jewellery, or ‘Zeeuwse knoop’ or ‘Zeeuwse knop’ in Dutch, has a long history dating back to the time of the Dutch naval hero Michiel De Ruyter (1607-1676). Men wore the items on their shirts, waistcoat and their board as ‘throat button’. Later, women starting wearing these items as jewellery. They were used as hat pin or brooch. The items were made of silver or gold. Back then, the Dutch Jewellery was a status symbol: the larger the size of the item, the richer and more importantly the wearer.

This seems to be a common theme – thankfully anyone and everyone can now wear jewellery – it is not exclusive to the rich and famous and our Ariki New Zealand Jewellery can be purchased in this amazing country – in fact we even have a wee Dutch Windmill Pendant to honour this remarkable part of the world:

GP814/PO814   Dutch Windmill Pendant            If you are fortunate enough to be in Holland on the second weekend in May you will witness their National Mill day – where 950 windmills and watermills open their doors to visitors. Historically the Dutch became very innovative when it came to keeping out the water. They built dykes, fortifications and last but not least wind and watermills to create new land. Our cute wee Dutch windmill pendant pays homage to these mills which are characteristic of the Dutch landscape as well as the innovative people who built them.

My tour of the world of Ariki New Zealand Jewellery continues – please let me share with your some other amazing places we send our unique Paua Shell Jewellery.