William of the Netherlands

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.

What people wore

The multi-purpose apron

An apron, known as a 'schölk', was a versatile daily tool used not only to protect clothes but also to carry eggs, fruit, or harvest, wipe tables, and even dry children's tears. Women would roll up the bottom edge to create a convenient pouch for these everyday tasks.

Daily life

Water access and costly light

Water had to be fetched manually from pumps, wells, or rain barrels, and in some areas, the available water was of poor quality, often contaminated by waste. Because lighting, such as candles and lamp oil, was costly, daily activities were strictly dictated by daylight.

Work

Daily wages and hours for rural laborers

Day laborers in the rural region of Salland earned between 30 and 50 cents per day, depending on the season and the amount of work available. During harvest time, they often worked from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., while winter days were limited to 7 hours of work.

Getting around

Costs and innovations in water transport

A skilled craftsman, earning about one guilder per day, could travel at most 20 kilometers by barge for his daily wage. Some faster barges, known as 'flying boats' or 'iron barges', were introduced in the 1820s and 1840s to compete with road transport.

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.