Elisabeth Sophia Gyldenløve

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.

What people wore

Value of linen clothing

In 1641, three new linen shirts were valued at three daler and three mark, showing the significant value of textiles.

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.

What it cost

Rye bread price in the 1600s

In the 1600s, a pound of rye bread typically cost 1 to 2 skilling, though prices could rise significantly during grain shortages.

Music

Popular musical instruments of the era

Common people frequently used the recorder, bagpipe, shawm, and harp, while the lute, zither, and clavichord were considered noble instruments.

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.