Jantien Heringa

What people wore

Moral Standards and Everyday Attire

In the 1930s, some religious schools strictly enforced modesty, with teachers occasionally sending boys home for wearing sandals without socks because it was considered walking around half-naked. Meanwhile, the earlier introduction of flesh-colored stockings around 1920 sparked intense moral debates, though the sheer number of women wearing them eventually rendered the controversy pointless by 1929.

Daily life

Coin-operated electricity and gas meters

Families used coin-operated meters for electricity and gas; when the light went out, one had to insert a guilder coin into the meter to restore power.

What it cost

Everyday food prices in the 1930s

A sliced loaf of bread cost 11 cents, and a single egg cost 2 cents. A pound of butter was approximately 50 cents, while a full meal in a cafeteria could cost 25 cents.

Getting around

Modernization and travel comfort

Motor transport was seen as modern and comfortable, with bus passengers enjoying padded seats, whereas third-class rail travelers still sat on hard wooden seats until the introduction of new streamlined diesel trains in 1934.

At the table

Staple diet of potatoes and fat in 1930s

During the 1930s, families frequently consumed meals centered on potatoes and fat, often spreading a thick layer of butter, margarine, or lard on bread. Vegetables were considered less important, and staples like meat were often boiled for an hour in stews like hotchpotch.

Work

1919 Labour Act standardized work hours

The 1919 Labour Act introduced an 8-hour workday and a 45-hour workweek for factories and offices. Shops and hospitals were initially granted a 10-hour workday with a 55-hour week, with plans for a gradual transition.