Gustavus Adolphus of the Palatinate

At the table

Herring as a protein staple

Herring was a dietary cornerstone for the lower classes, frequently consumed salted or pickled because it was plentiful and affordable. The Dutch fishing industry was so efficient at processing and packing herring at sea that these fish were a reliable protein source for many.

What people wore

Individual clothing costs in 1626

In 1626, a woman named Maria van Nesse recorded paying 15 stuivers for a bodice and 10 stuivers for a pair of sleeves, demonstrating how individual clothing components were purchased and assembled.

Getting around

The reliable horse-drawn towboat system

The trekschuit, a horse-drawn passenger boat, was a reliable and popular way to travel between towns on a vast network of tow-canals. Passengers could choose between sitting in the hold or the more comfortable cabin for a higher fee.

What it cost

Wages and purchasing power

An outdoor laborer earned about 6.5 guilders per week, while 100 guilders could purchase roughly 2,535 pounds of rye bread or 570 pounds of meat.

Music

Church music and folk dance customs

Organists played for up to an hour after Sunday and Wednesday church services, sometimes using the organ to help the congregation practice the melody and tone for the psalms. During festive seasons, commoners participated in the traditional egg dance, which required dancers to maneuver around eggs on the ground without breaking them.

Daily life

Strict Classroom Discipline

Basic school rules strictly prohibited students from throwing fleas, lice, or snot at classmates, with punishments including being whipped with a stick or hit with a paddle.