Princess Marie Susanne of Ligne

Getting around

The traditional horse-drawn barge

Known as the barge, a horse-drawn tow canal boat was a common and punctual way to travel between towns like Bruges and Ostend until the late 19th century.

At the table

Dietary shifts for urban families

After the 1870s, diets for ordinary urban families in Belgium improved, moving toward a modern pattern with increased consumption of meat, fat, dairy, and sugar.

What people wore

Festive Sunday attire for rural Belgians

Rural residents typically owned one set of festive Sunday clothes used for both church services and mourning. Men often wore a shiny blue smock on Sundays, while women wore a traditional regional cap.

Music

Children sang carols on Christmas Eve

In some towns, poor children sang Flemish carols like "Blyden nacht" on Christmas Eve, hoping to be rewarded with bread, fruit, or nuts.

Daily life

Schooling and First Communion Expectations

While school attendance was not mandatory by law during this period, most children eventually received some education, often leaving school by age 11 or 12 to begin working. Preparation for the First Communion, involving new clothes and memorizing the Catechism, was considered the most significant life event for a child.