Holland's Artistic Side
Dutch scenery; art in the coats of arms, such as Zeeland (Sea-land), whose lion emerging from the sea, with the device Luctor et emergo (“I struggle, but I emerge”), typifies the agonies and triumphs of Zeeland.
Many a pretty story lies hidden in these symbols of organized social life. The Volendam white horse, with one of its hoofs a botje (flounder), recalls the legend of the veulen (foal or steed) which came ashore from the Zuider Zee, and was fed with wheat by a Volendam maiden, to whom for a week he daily brought a botje, in grateful recognition of her kindness, until one day the maiden was induced to bestride his back, when it carried her away for ever. Such is the Lorelei of the Zuider Zee. Edam's steer is likewise the subject of a pretty story. Once upon a time the Edammers and the Haarlemmers revelled
143
