Watch my video here: https://youtu.be/dq9xNUBWObc
Did you know there is this ‘White city Thorn’ in the Netherlands?
Thorn is known as the ‘White city’ (het ‘Witte stadje’) because of its old white brick houses in the center of town. Thorn is located in the Dutch province of Limburg.
Thorn has a rich history. In the 10th century a monastery was established for the noblewomen. The principal of the monastery was the abbess. She was assisted by ladies of the highest nobility.
Thorn Abbey or Imperial Abbey of Thorn was a sovereign miniature principality ruled by women!
When I walked in the city Thorn, I felt very serene and peaceful inside. Maybe it was because of the influence of the nunnery that used to play a big role in the past? There’s just a nice atmosphere in Thorn. We also noticed that the people there were very nice and friendly.
It was on a Sunday afternoon and we were taking photos for a photoshoot in the middle of the street, right across the St. Michaelskerk (Abbey Church). The devine service was over and cars were coming in our direction from the church. We didn’t noticed the cars and kept on taking photos.
Instead of honking, the drivers waited quietly for us to finish the photoshoot and waved at us as they passed. This scene would have looked completely different if it had happened in the big city, we knew that for sure.
We were delighted by seeing all those cute looking, beautiful, white brick houses, because it’s something unusual in the Netherlands. Most brick houses here have some yellowish, orange, red or brownish color, but in general not white. It felt like we were walking in a different country. But why were the houses white?
In 1794 the French invaded Thorn, which meant the end of the Abbey and the principality of Thorn. The ladies of the nobilities had to flee from the French and many poor people came to live in Thorn.
The French introduced a tax that was based on the number of windows of the houses. More windows in the house meant that you had to pay a higher tax.
Since the poor could not afford this, they made their windows smaller by bricking it up with stones. Then the houses were painted white, so that the difference between the old and new bricks became invisible.
This is the story behind the old white houses and why we can enjoy this beautiful ‘White city Thorn’ today!
I am wearing a dress from Wholina. https://www.wholina.com/about
Wholina is Juline Vanille Bezold, a German-Swiss conceptual body designer and researcher.
Qi collection from Wholina: https://www.wholina.com/qi
” Wholina’s appeal is first and foremost to remember how valuable clothing is. Her pieces are ecological, timeless and pure, with a conceptual twist: gender-, size- and age-neutral and restoring balance to mother earth is key. All items are locally produced and handmade in Amsterdam.”
