Gustavus Adolphus of the Palatinate

At the table

Bread as the staple food

The daily diet was centered on bread, often supplemented with porridges or stews like hutspot, which were cooked in a single pot over an open fire. Poor families relied on dark, nutritious rye or coarse-grain bread, sometimes consuming up to five pounds daily for a family of four.

What people wore

Layering wool for winter warmth

During winter, Dutch people of all classes wore extra layers of wool under their indoor clothes to keep warm while skating.

Getting around

Strict schedules and timekeeping measures

To ensure punctuality, sandglasses were used in boats and at docks to time the trips, and skippers were fined if they caused delays. In some cases, passengers could even pay 18 stuivers to force a boat to depart.

What it cost

Wages and purchasing power

An outdoor laborer earned about 6.5 guilders per week, while 100 guilders could purchase roughly 2,535 pounds of rye bread or 570 pounds of meat.

Music

Music in daily Dutch life

The Dutch enjoyed music at home in small amateur groups called Collegia Musica or during family gatherings, while common folk played instruments like fiddles, bagpipes, and hurdy-gurdies at taverns, weddings, and seasonal festivals. Songs were integral to daily life, with maids singing during housework and lullabies used to put children to sleep.

Daily life

Split Doors Kept Children Safe

Families often used split doors, which allowed the top half to be opened for fresh air while keeping the bottom half closed to keep animals out and small children safely inside.