Elizabeth of Denmark, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Getting around

Perilous boat crossings of the Belt

Crossing the Great Belt could be treacherous, requiring passengers to hire rowboats and sometimes wait days for calm weather, while ice might necessitate passengers walking on frozen patches.

Daily life

Beer instead of water for drinking

Water was rarely drunk plain because it was often considered unsafe; instead, even children commonly drank beer, which was typically weak and sour. Water was primarily used for cooking and household needs, often sourced from wells that required careful management to prevent contamination.

What people wore

Everyday linen garments for artisans

Ordinary artisans frequently owned multiple linen shirts and shifts, which served as essential base layers worn closest to the skin.

Music

Popular Music and Instruments at Gatherings

Musicians, often called pipers, frequently played pipe and drum simultaneously at weddings and social gatherings, using instruments like the shawm, which was a popular domestic instrument.

At the table

Children drank beer instead of water

Because clean water was often unsafe to drink, almost everyone, including children, drank beer with their meals. It was usually weak and often quite sour.