Louise of the Netherlands

At the table

Potatoes as the main staple food

Potatoes became the staple food for ordinary families, often eaten at least twice a day with salt and sometimes mustard.

What people wore

Layered skirts and hidden waist bags

Women often wore multiple skirts at once, sometimes up to six, which could be taken off as a single layered unit called a 'pels'. To carry personal items like coins or handkerchiefs, they used a small linen or cotton bag (dijzak) tied around the waist under their skirts, accessible through slits.

Getting around

Costs and innovations in water transport

A skilled craftsman, earning about one guilder per day, could travel at most 20 kilometers by barge for his daily wage. Some faster barges, known as 'flying boats' or 'iron barges', were introduced in the 1820s and 1840s to compete with road transport.

What it cost

Cost of shoes and housing in 1827

In 1827, a person spent 10 guilders annually on shoes, cobbling, and straps, and 52 guilders for housing and sleeping accommodations.

Music

Singing as an Everyday Community Activity

Singing was a central part of daily life, with people singing in streets, homes, taverns, and during public celebrations or political events. Songs helped maintain a sense of community even during times of political unrest or physical separation.

Daily life

Schooling and child labor

Children frequently left school around age 12 to begin working 12-hour days, though classes were often large, sometimes reaching 80 students. Rural children faced particular hardships, as bad weather and difficult paths often prevented them from attending school during the winter.