Christine Ahlefeldt, Comtesse d'Ahlefeldt

At the table

Beer consumption in daily life

Beer was an essential part of the daily diet, consumed morning, afternoon, and evening by people of all social classes. Adults typically consumed at least twelve barrels of beer per year.

What people wore

Everyday footwear and trousers

Peasant men often wore knickers made from tanned buckskin, and both men and women typically wore clogs for everyday and festive activities.

Getting around

Introduction of passenger mail coaches

In 1653, the Danish postal service began operating mail coaches that carried both passengers and parcels twice a week.

What it cost

Food Costs in the 1650s

A pound of coarse rye bread usually cost 1 to 2 skilling, while a pound of pork cost about 5 skilling in the 1650s.

Music

Town musicians held exclusive performance rights

Privileged town musicians held a monopoly on all paid musical performances for citizens and farmers, often charging for their services at weddings and feasts.

Daily life

Dark and Smoky Homes

Ordinary homes often lacked chimneys, relying on open fires on the floor with smoke escaping through holes in the roof, making interiors dark, smoky, and stifling.