Philippe of Belgium

Getting around

Transition from trams to buses in Brussels

During the 1950s, public transport in Brussels and other regions relied heavily on trams, but many lines were rapidly replaced by bus services, causing service frequencies to drop; for instance, waiting times increased from six or seven minutes to about twelve minutes.

At the table

Exotic food as luxury decoration

Fresh pineapple was extremely exclusive; families would sometimes rent one from a delicatessen just to place it on a fruit bowl as a decorative piece for parties. Many vegetables common today, such as broccoli, pumpkin, bell peppers, and zucchini, were not available in the 1950s.

What people wore

Belgian boys' clothing in the 1950s-1960s

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Belgian boys frequently wore short pants until they were 12 or 13 years old, sometimes even until age 16 for school uniforms. By the 1960s, American-style casual wear like T-shirts began to gain popularity among the youth.

Music

Traditional Social Dances and Community Events

Common social dances in Belgium during this period included the polka, wals (waltz), schottische, and the linear branle. These dances were staples at local village celebrations and community events.

Daily life

Classroom life and strict discipline

Children often used a slate and stylus to write in school, and teachers sometimes tied the left hands of left-handed students to their desks to force them to write with their right hands. Class sizes were large, often reaching 30 students, and the school week included Saturday mornings.