Louise Françoise de Bourbon

What people wore

The wide rhinegrave style for men

The rhinegrave was a popular men's garment from 1655 to 1675, consisting of extremely wide, pleated breeches that resembled a skirt and could require up to 1.77 meters of fabric per leg.

Daily life

Basic schooling provided by village masters

Schooling was not mandatory and often paid for by the village community; children were taught by local masters just enough reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Work

Wages and bonuses for printing staff

A printer's assistant could earn 6 to 7 guilders per week, while apprentices might receive only 6 stivers per week in their first year. Some employers provided new shoes or a new hat as an annual bonus.

Music

Peasants dancing on the Sabbath

Despite church disapproval of Sabbath dancing, peasants frequently enjoyed dancing to the sound of a pipe and tabor on their day of rest.

At the table

Meat was a rare luxury

Meat was extremely rare for ordinary families, with many peasants eating it fewer than three times a year. In contrast, they frequently relied on thick pottages made from seasonal vegetables, legumes, and bread.

Getting around

Subsidized travel for the poor

While ordinary people traveled by boat, the poor could sometimes travel at a reduced fare thanks to city-funded armenkassen (poor funds), which also helped remove beggars from towns.

What it cost

Food prices in the 17th century

A pig cost 24 livres, while a bushel of red wheat was priced at 47 sous in the 17th century.