The National Costume Doll Collection
The National Costume Doll Collection
Let more than 2000 dolls take you on a journey around the world. Along the way you’ll come across stories about clothes, people, culture and traditions. Immerse yourself in fabulous folklore.
Bon voyage. Have a nice trip!
Start exploring the NCDC
The National Costume Doll Collection (NCDC in short) is a collection of dolls dressed in traditional ethnic clothing. Call them regional or foreign dolls, give them a name, international souvenir dolls, whatever you like. They come from every part of the world. Almost every part, because there is always something to be desired.
I’m Josien Buijs and this is my collection. It all started with an accidental find at a flea market. And now look where this has led to! With more than 2000 pieces I have an overcrowded house, this NCDC website as doll showcase, a FaceBook group for identifying dolls and a professional webshop. All because of these gorgeous dolls. It must be my destiny.

In the Spotlight
Below a few top pieces, or at least I think so myself. They deserve to be noticed. Also some recent additions to this website so you can see at a glance what’s new. Doesn’t mean these are my latest finds because proper research and documentation does take time.
Cameroon Dolls Western High Plateau Bamileke People
Cameroon Dolls Western High Plateau Bamileke People Two small beaded dolls made by the Bamileke people, an ethnic group living in the Western [...]
Iran Dolls Kurdish & Qashqai People
Iran Dolls Kurdish & Qashqai People Two large dolls made in Iran. They came as a pair but I found out much later [...]
Barbados National Costume Doll
Barbados National Costume Doll Doll from Barbados dressed in traditional costume, depicting a lady of African descent. With 'Barbados' stitched on a piece [...]
Uganda Dolls Kampala Peasants with Cow
Uganda Dolls Kampala Peasants with Cow Dolls as sold through a craft shop on Buganda Road in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Depicting [...]
Bulgaria Doll Kuker
Bulgaria Doll Kuker Bulgaria Kuker doll (plurial Kukeri). Kukeri perform ritual dances to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck. Costumes are [...]
American Samoa Doll Pago Pago Hula Dancer
American Samoa Doll Pago Pago Hula Dancer Hula dancer doll from Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa which is one of the [...]


Fall in love with dolls!
First, take a look around and enjoy all my unique and beautiful dolls. Next, complete your own collection with a doll from my webshop poppentopper.com. If that’s still not enough then join my National Costume Doll ID Group on Facebook. Fall in love with foreign costume dolls like me, there’s much to learn and appreciate!
Happy collecting,