Countess Louise Juliana of Nassau

At the table

Popular treats like olie-koecken

Ordinary families enjoyed various forms of baked goods, including stiff pancakes eaten by hand, small pancakes called poffertjes, and olie-koecken, which were deep-fried balls of dough and are the forerunners of the modern doughnut.

What people wore

Standard Male Working Dress

For men of the lower classes, the standard everyday outfit typically consisted of a doublet (wambuis) and hose. This simple combination was a common sight for laborers in the period.

Getting around

Early water travel and ferries

Before the later organized canal system, passengers relied on scheduled ferries or small boats, and traveling between cities like Leiden and Utrecht could be a difficult, all-day journey on silty waters. By 1597, passenger travel was already intense enough between Delft and The Hague that a tent was required on each boat to protect travelers.

Work

Long and grueling working days

Working days were extremely long, typically lasting from twelve hours in winter to sixteen hours during the summer months.

Music

Cost of a city watch trumpet

In 1562, a city mayor in Hoorn purchased a trumpet for the town watch for five guilders, and by 1589, the city paid ten guilders for a replacement trumpet used on the church tower. These instruments often featured an attached silk flag emblazoned with the city's emblem.

Daily life

Weak beer as a daily drink for children

Because industrial pollution often tainted local water sources, children frequently drank weak beer as a daily substitute for water. Painting evidence indicates that orphanage children, who were often provided with this drink, were recognizable by their distinct red-and-black sleeved uniforms.