The Rijksmuseum's substantial costume collection, the oldest in the Netherlands, bears witness to a host of stories. Virtually every garment bespoke and catered to the wishes of its intended wearer. How did the wealfhy Dutch choose the fabrics and cut? Who made and embellished these clothes, and on what occasions were they worn? Why have these costumes - many of them hundreds of years old - been preserved? From the Frisian branch of the Orange dynasty in the Duch golden Age to Yves Saint Lauren in 1965, this selection of eighty exeptional garments highlights the international character of Dutch fashion thoughout the centuries, while simultaneously illustrating the developments that took place within the country itself.