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Countess Louise Henriette of Nassau

The Hague, 27 Nov 1627 – Cölln, 1667

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 27 Nov 1627

    Born in The Hague

  2. 1648–1666

    6 children are born

  3. 1667

    Dies in Cölln

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 6

During her lifetime

She lived through 5 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around The Hague.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1620s · Countess is born in The Hague

In the news1618–1648

Destruction of the Thirty Years' War

The Thirty Years' War, lasting from 1618 to 1648, caused a demographic catastrophe where roughly one-third of urban residents and two-fifths of the rural population perished. Soldiers and camp followers frequently destroyed crops and seized food, leading to widespread famine and forcing villagers to abandon their land.

At the table

Herring as a protein staple

Herring was a dietary cornerstone for the lower classes, frequently consumed salted or pickled because it was plentiful and affordable. The Dutch fishing industry was so efficient at processing and packing herring at sea that these fish were a reliable protein source for many.

What people wore

Layering for Winter Skating

During winter, Dutch skaters wore extra layers of wool under their indoor clothing, which added colorful festive accents to the drab countryside.

Getting around

Forcing a boat departure with money

Before the major canal network expansion in the 1630s, travelers between cities often used small, irregular ferries where boatmen would only depart once they had collected enough cargo or passengers were willing to pay the difference to force an immediate departure. Early efforts to regulate this, such as a 1605 ordinance in Delft, required passengers to pay 24 stuivers for a one-way trip to force a boat to leave.

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

Church music and folk dance customs

Organists played for up to an hour after Sunday and Wednesday church services, sometimes using the organ to help the congregation practice the melody and tone for the psalms. During festive seasons, commoners participated in the traditional egg dance, which required dancers to maneuver around eggs on the ground without breaking them.

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.