Princess Sophie of the Netherlands

At the table

Coffee and gin as essential drinks

Due to polluted well water, urban workers often drank weak coffee or chicory as a safer alternative, while gin was widely consumed for stimulation.

What people wore

Wearing six skirts with hidden pockets

Women often layered up to six skirts, which they could lift and tuck into slits to work. They stored small items like money or handkerchiefs in a linen bag worn at the waist under these skirts.

Getting around

Travel by trekschuit and diligence

In the early 19th century, Dutch people traveled between towns primarily by trekschuit (tow-barge), a horse-drawn boat that was affordable and operated on a reliable schedule. For faster, more expensive travel, they used the diligence, a horse-drawn carriage that ran on roads.

What it cost

Cost of basic goods

Around 1850, a pair of shoes cost 2.50 guilders and a suit cost 4 guilders. A daily wage of 1 guilder could purchase approximately 7 loaves of bread and 4 liters of milk.

Music

Dancing and Festivals in Social Life

Festivals and dances were vital for social connection, with public celebrations frequently including collective singing and dancing. For example, the Carmagnole was a popular dance performed during the revolutionary freedom tree celebrations in 1795.

Daily life

Living in a single room

Many ordinary households relied on a single room for cooking, eating, sleeping, and working, with beds often tucked into wall cupboards to save space. Fuel for cooking and heating was expensive, so families sometimes cooked multiple meals at once to economize.