Prince Jean-Engelbert, 12th Duke of Arenberg

What people wore

Preserving the Volendam lace cap

The Volendam white lace cap, called a hul, was part of daily dress in the early 20th century and was kept stiffened in a tin to maintain its shape.

Getting around

Train travel times between Utrecht and Groningen

By 1900, traveling from Utrecht to Groningen by train took four hours, a duration that decreased to three hours by 1932.

At the table

Coffee and tea replace traditional drinks

Coffee, tea, and sometimes cocoa with sugar replaced beer, water, and buttermilk as the most common everyday drinks. Previously, buttermilk mixed with well water had been a standard beverage.

Music

Rise of Cafes and Jazz Culture

During the early 20th century, cafes hosted diverse live performances, including ladies' orchestras and piano players. By the 1920s, a jazz craze took hold, leading to the formation of Dutch jazz bands and the introduction of American dances like the Charleston and Shimmy.

Daily life

Living conditions in crowded one-room homes

Around 1900, many poor families lived in single-room dwellings where they cooked, slept, and relieved themselves, often using a bucket or wooden box that was collected weekly. Waste was sometimes stored in basements or attics to be sold as fertilizer.

Work

Most common jobs in the Netherlands

Agriculture was the largest employer, though many laborers also worked in textile factories, the port of Rotterdam, or as household servants. Home-based industries were common, where people performed tasks like shelling shrimp or stripping tobacco for extremely low wages.