The annual Orange City Tulip Festival Extravaganza was held on Wednesday, March 19, at Prairie Winds Event Center. The event featured a luncheon and program during which the costumes for the 2026 Tulip Queen and Court were revealed, and the 2026 parade marshals were introduced.
TULIP COURT COSTUMES
The 2026 Tulip Court is proud to wear the authentic costume of Scheveningen, a subdistrict of The Hague along the western coast of the Netherlands. Scheveningen started as a small fishing village, and, over the years, developed into a seaside destination for visitors.
The klederdracht is new to the Tulip Festival and consists of several pieces. The short jacket has a diamond-shaped back, giving it a distinctive overall look. The lower center back of the jacket is finished with a tightly pleated piece. The rounded neckline boasts a gathered fabric trim with a velvet ribbon in the center. A neck scarf fits under the jacket. Each costume has a brooch in front.
The long matching skirt features several rows of shirring around the waistline, which adds richness to the details. The narrow apron, in a contrasting dark color, also features rows of shirring at the waistline, with a long tie that wraps around to tie in the front. The petticoat, or underskirt, is a simple white fabric, but is personalized with each girl’s initials embroidered at the bottom of the petticoat, right above the right foot. Headwear includes three pieces: a black undercap which covers most of the hair, a lightweight silver metal oorijzer, and a decorative lace overcap. The oorijzer was originally designed to hold the outer cap in place and give it shape, but developed into a showpiece over time, with fancy decorative metal jewelry attached. The Scheveningen oorijzer has the metal jewelry, but features the decorations higher, on the forehead, instead of at the sides like many other provinces. White stockings and plain black shoes finish off the outfit.
PARADE MARSHALS
The Orange City Tulip Festival is pleased to announce the 2026 Parade Marshals for the 85th annual celebration as Marlys Hop, Denise DeVries, and Shirley Van Wechel. Each year, the Parade Marshal honor is given in recognition of individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the Festival. Marlys, Denise, and Shirley have played an extraordinary role in preserving and advancing the authentic representation of traditional Dutch klederdracht (costume) in Orange City.
Marlys Hop became involved in Dutch costume work in the 1970s. She joined a newly formed committee dedicated to researching and developing accurate Dutch costume patterns and making them accessible to local seamstresses and families. For approximately 25 years, Marlys co-chaired the committee alongside researcher Marlene Rons, helping introduce numerous authentic costumes and patterns to the festival. She later continued that work for another 25 years with Denise DeVries, all while consulting and assisting countless community members with their own costumes.
Denise DeVries has been sewing Dutch costumes since the early 1970s. In 1976, she created the Queen and Court costumes when the Staphorst costume was first introduced for the royal court. She has sewn Queen and Court costumes 12 times and continues to serve as a consultant to the Queen’s Committee, advising on fabrics, patterns, and authenticity. For the past 24 years, Shirley Van Wechel has faithfully created the Queen and Court costumes, ensuring each year’s royalty is beautifully and accurately dressed.
Together, these three women have dedicated decades of service to preserving the integrity, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage that define the Orange City Tulip Festival. Their work has shaped generations of festival participants and ensured that Dutch traditions continue to thrive in our community.
