Life at a caravan camp is not what people are used to. This ,strange, culture obviously also has its charms. There are many prejudices about ,campers,, but are they well-founded or is there a grain of truth in them? Based on my own experiences, I show the world of the caravan dweller.
Traveling is in the blood
The history of the caravan dweller is very rich. Caravan residents are descended from farmers, agricultural laborers and peat cutters who could no longer earn a living around 1850. Since 1850, the ,travellers, (as they call themselves) have been traveling throughout the country. They traveled from town to town with a caravan no larger than 4 to 5 meters with 2 horses attached to it. The families were large and the families shared the caravan with each other. A family of 15 people was quite normal.
Father at work
Sometimes they parked on the side of the road to stay there for a few days. Without electricity and running water, mother took care of the children while father and older sons earned the money. Being able to ,peddle, was of vital importance for a caravan dweller. They could not go to school so it was taught from father to son. Trading was taught to the little boys at an early age, so that they could provide for the family.
Work
Typical professions of caravan residents were scissor sharpening, matting chairs, tying brooms, tinkering, making music and stalls.
Mother takes care of kids
While father and older sons were out trying to put bread on the table, mother and older daughters took care of the family. This was very difficult without running water and electricity. The children were washed in a large tub that was outside the caravan, and cleaning was of paramount importance, because hygiene was the greatest asset.
No gypsies
Travelers are often compared to gypsies. This statement is incorrect. First of all, caravan residents are of Dutch descent and their history dates back to 1850, unlike the gypsies who have a history that stretches back centuries. Due to the way of life of the caravan residents, they were and are often compared to the Roma gypsies.
Where do the prejudices come from?
Because there used to be quite a few ,well-founded, prejudices about gypsies and nomads, because they were said to be bandits who were not averse to stealing, the caravan residents were also quickly placed in that box. After all, everything that traveled around was no good. People all agreed on that.
Most prejudices at a glance
- They are antisocial, dirty and criminal
- Undeclared workers
- Race haters
- Do not obey the law
- Cannabis growers
From road to caravan camp
In 1978, itinerants were forced to live in centers. These centers were located in remote places far from civilization. Here the caravans were grouped together and it was renamed a caravan camp. A caravan law was also introduced that stood up for the interests of caravan residents. This law protected the culture and mentality of travelers. Even though they were no longer able to travel around as they had always been used to, they could at least be themselves. Many trailer parks had the perimeter of a village. Several families lived together at the camp. Nowadays the camps have become a lot smaller and are located in built-up areas. The interaction with the ,citizens, has been a lot better in recent years than before.
Abolition of the Caravan Act
In 1998, the caravan law was abolished again. This meant that the culture and customs of the travelers were no longer safe. Ordinary ,citizens, could now also live in a caravan and, as a blow to the fire level, no new camps were built, forcing many travelers to live in a house. Actions were still taken against this abolition, but to no avail. The caravan residents had lost their right to exist. Now that many travelers live in houses, they do not deny their origins. The culture and customs still exist and will never be lost.