Orange City, Iowa — The Orange City Tulip Court will be dressed in the costume of a fishing village and the parade marshal will be a man who’s lived in the community for over 40 years when the community celebrates the annual Tulip Festival this May.
Orange City Tulip Festival organizers tell us the annual Orange City Tulip Festival Extravaganza was held Friday, March 21, at Prairie Winds Event Center. The event featured a luncheon and program during which the costumes for the 2025 Tulip Queen and Court were revealed, and the 2025 parade marshal was introduced.
They tell us the 2025 Tulip Court is proud to be wearing the authentic costume of Spakenburg, from the Province of Utrecht. Spakenburg is a fishing village located in a harbor north of Amsterdam. The most iconic part of the Spakenburg costume is the ‘kraplap’. The kraplap is a starched rectangular cotton chintz fabric with a narrow-slit cut in the middle, worn over the shoulders. When bent, the hole opens for the wearer’s head. Kraplaps are bright in color, featuring floral patterned designs, making all of them different and unique.
The kraplap is worn together with a checkered scarf that is white stripes on red cotton fabric. The shape of the kraplap over the shoulders is made and kept in place by white twill tape. The kraplap is worn over a plain black bodice with plaid sleeve caps pinned with gold safety pins. The fabric on the sleeves matches the plaid apron worn over a black skirt. The skirt also features horizontal pleating in the front and back. The everyday costume has a long plaid apron with wide folds in the waistband. Queen Jaeyle has the formal version of the apron, with a wide plaid band over her waist.
The costume also includes an underskirt or slip, which is typically striped, either red and white, black and white, or a combination of red, black and white. The Spakenburg hat is a starched white lace with black lining worn at the back of the head and kept in place with gold hatpins. Each court member has a cloth purse called a zijzak, which is worn under the apron and skirt, but over the underskirt. The girls are also wearing gold filigree earrings and bracelets. The everyday court costume is worn with wooden shoes. The queen’s costume may be worn with wooden shoes or black dress shoes.
PARADE MARSHAL
The Tulip Festival Steering Committee tells us they are pleased to honor Tom Hydeen as the 2025 Parade Marshal. A familiar face in the community and a dedicated Festival volunteer for over four decades. Originally from Minnesota, Tom moved to Orange City in 1982 with his wife, Carla, and their young son, Steven, when he joined the staff at First Reformed Church. Daughters Erika and Christa were born and raised in Orange City. What was meant to be a five-year stay turned into 42 years—and counting!
Tom quickly embraced the spirit of the Tulip Festival, joining the adult Dutch Dancers in his early years. Since then, he has become a Festival fixture, participating in countless ways, including the Night Show, where he spent 35 years either backstage, in the orchestra, or directing the orchestra.
Beyond the stage, Tom has tried his hand at a variety of Festival roles—with some more successful than others. He quickly learned that being a Pedi-cab driver was no easy feat, struggled with left and right as a bus tour guide, and even shed a little blood while attempting to carve wooden shoes. However, he found his stride as a host on the horse-drawn trolley, a member of the beloved Fietsen Zangers (Bicycle Singers), and an attendant of the historic street organ in Staatcentrum.
Through it all, Tom has witnessed the Festival’s welcoming spirit, where participation is open to all—regardless of background, connections, or even Dutch heritage. His humor, passion, and willingness to dive into new experiences embody the heart of what makes the Tulip Festival so special. Now, after years of klompen dancing, singing, storytelling, and entertaining Festival guests, Tom is honored to serve as the 2025 Parade Marshal.
