Elisabeth Augusta Lindenov

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

Lack of schooling for children

Children in Nyboder received no schooling in the 17th century and were instead made to work away from home.

What people wore

Mourning skirt used for napping

Funerals in Store Magleby until the 1880s featured a black skirt called a job, which women pulled over their heads to hide their grief and sometimes to nap.

Music

Singing ballads as everyday music

Singing was the most common form of music for the masses, centered on ancient ballads passed down through generations, which were sung during festivities and social gatherings.

At the table

Daily diet relied on porridge and kale

Daily meals for ordinary people were simple and centered on staples like porridge and bread, while kale was a crucial winter vitamin source because it could survive outdoors year-round. Porridge and bread were essential parts of every meal, and meat or fish were consumed when available, often salted or dried.