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Lolland Island

Lolland Map.jpg

Women's Costumes

The beautiful Lolland Women's Costume has several elements:

a. nattrøje: the sweater (nattrøje) is most commonly RED, but can be GREEN, with silk ribbons along the neckline and sleeves.

b. bodice: most commonly GREEN when the nattrøje is red, but can be other colors while incorporating green silk ribbons. When the nattrøje is green, the bodice is commonly BROWN.

c. criss-cross bodice lacing: (something considerably less common in Denmark than hooks). This is a hallmark of the Lolland costume, and is seen on very few other Danish costumes (e.g., Læsø and North Falster). As Lolland and North Falster are geographically very close, it's no surprise that they would share the lacing method of bodice closure. In the black-and-white image from Ellen Andersen's book (below), the lacing runs between silver rings.

d. headgear: See 1952 photo, below, from National Museum/Ellen Andersen

e. hatbands: (black if married; blue if mourning; various bright colors if unmarried; green for "corrupted" women)

f. scarf: what appears to be two scarves, a white one underneath with a colored one on top (like in the Samsø costume), is an illusion. In this case, there is one multicolored scarf with an edge of white lace. This is another hallmark of the Lolland costume.

g. skirt: red wool with two silk bands at the bottom. Classically, the upper is yellow and the lower is light blue or green.

h. apron: blue-and-white checkered pattern

i. stockings: dark blue

Red Lolland

This is the classic Lolland ladies attire! The one in all the Danish costume books. The color red was typically worn in summer and for Pentecost. 

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Lolland 2a.JPG

Lolland woman
Image credit: Folkedragt.dk

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Lolland Costume, 1830-1840
from "Folkedragter i Danmark" by Ellen Andersen, 1952

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These ladies absolutely "nailed it" with their spot-on Lolland costumes. You can see the criss-cross bodice closure running through silver rings just like in the 1952 Ellen Andersen image above.  Not only that, they bothered to put the two silk stripes (yellow and green) at the bottom of a red skirt. The bodice has elements of green, the apron is checkered, and importantly, their scarves have a lace edge attached!
Image credit: Midtlollandske Folkedansere

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This may be the same costume (but with different headgear)
Image credit: Midtlollandske Folkedansere

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Lolland woman, 1800
Image credit:Licensed from Folkedragt.dk

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Image credit: Ballerup Folkedanserforening

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Young Girl's Costume, Østofte Parish, Lolland
Image Credit: Minna Kragelund, "Folkedragter"

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Image Credit: Mikael Bjerregaard

Nattrøje fra Toreby.jpg

Image Credit: Museum Lolland-Falster

Nattrøje, Stokkemarke.jpg

Image Credit: Museum Lolland-Falster

Green Lolland

The color green was typically worn in spring and for Easter. This is an alternate Lolland costume that is no less beautiful.

Possible Lolland - found on Midtlolland Folkedansere.jpg

Image credit: Midtlollandske Folkedansere

Possible Lolland - found on Midtlolland Folkedansere 3.jpg

Image credit: Midtlollandske Folkedansere

Possible Lolland - found on Midtlolland Folkedansere 2.jpg
Green Lolland - worn by Midtlolland Folkedansere.jpg

Image credit: Midtlollandske Folkedansere

Nattrøje, Kettinge.jpg

Image Credit: Museum Lolland-Falster

Forstykke af nattrøje, Toreby.jpg

Image Credit: Museum Lolland-Falster

Men's Costumes

A painted plate (below) and some photos taken by Midtlolland Folkedansere suggest that this distinctive vest belongs to Lolland Island and the neighboring town of Hasselø on Falster.

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Spotted in Struer, Denmark 2025
Image credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com

Hesselo 5.jpg

Image credit: Ballerup Folkedanserforening

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Motif drawn by Eyvind Hansen for Lise Porcelain

Hesselo 4.jpg

Image credit: Brønshøj Folk Dancers

Hesselo 3.jpg

Image credit: Midtlolland Folkdansere

Hesselo 1.jpg
Hesselo 1a.jpg

Image credit: Folkedragt.dk

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