Maria Katharina of Schleswig-Holstein

Getting around

Travel by horse, wagon, and ferry

In 17th-century Denmark, people traveled between towns primarily by horse and wagon, on horseback, or on foot, as no railways or steamships existed during this period. Cross-country travel often required crossing water bodies using established ferry routes to connect the different Danish provinces.

Daily life

Managing Household Waste

When a toilet in a Copenhagen study house was cleaned in 1621, 131 loads of waste were removed, costing 34 dalers and 11 skilling. Households often relied on deep wells or barrels in the ground for waste, which had to be emptied when full.

What people wore

Value of linen clothing

In 1641, three new linen shirts were valued at three daler and three mark, showing the significant value of textiles.

Music

Rural instruments included bagpipes and drums

Among the rural population, common instruments included drone instruments like bagpipes and hurdy-gurdies, alongside drums and violin-like instruments such as the gig. These were often played at festivals and life celebrations, such as weddings and births.

At the table

Beer was the standard daily beverage

Ordinary families in Denmark drank beer throughout the day, including children, because fresh water was often not available or unsafe. An adult was expected to consume at least twelve barrels of beer annually.