Charles Dickens’ characters come alive in Dutch town enamoured with author

A man in costume in Deventer (Peter Dejong/AP)

The Dutch city of Deventer transformed on Saturday into a pocket of 19th-century England, with 950 people in costumes bringing characters from Charles Dickens’ books to life.

Oliver Twist, Ebeneezer Scrooge and Miss Havisham were among the characters at hand, mingling with chimney sweepers, livestock and Christmas carol singers in Deventer’s historic centre.