Arcadie Claret

At the table

A Simple Diet of Potatoes and Rye

Ordinary workers relied on a simple diet primarily consisting of potatoes and rye bread, with meat, butter, and fish being rare luxuries. During times of crisis, families struggled to afford even these basics, sometimes spending three-quarters of their income just on food.

What people wore

Feast day footwear with silver buckles

On feast days, women wore shoes adorned with large silver buckles that covered the entire forefoot.

Getting around

Slow but steady horse-drawn barges

Before railways, tow barges drawn by horses were a common way to travel between towns, moving at a steady but slow pace of 3 to 4 km per hour.

What it cost

Everyday worker diet

A day laborer's diet in winter typically included rye bread with coffee and herring for breakfast, and potatoes with soup for lunch, with meat usually reserved only for Sundays.

Music

Lacemakers sang rhythmic work songs

Flemish lacemakers in the mid-19th century sang rhythmic work songs called tellingen to coordinate their stitches, which also functioned as social and storytelling tools.

Daily life

Access to household water via wells

Water for households was typically drawn from private wells on farms or communal wells found within the villages.