Georg von Eppinghoven

Getting around

Local transport from train stations

Upon arriving at a railway station, travelers could hire an omnibus or a one-horse carriage known as a vigilante to reach their final destination. An omnibus with 14 to 20 seats cost 50 centimes, though it was often slower than walking due to frequent stops at inns.

At the table

Cheap Mussels as a Staple Food

In poor neighborhoods, raw mussels were an exceptionally cheap source of protein, costing only two and a half centimes for a hundred. Some families, like those in the Blandijnberg area, relied on this affordable food and deep-pumped well water to survive.

What people wore

The blue sarrau work blouse

Ordinary working-class and agricultural men commonly wore a sarrau, a loose, knee-length blue blouse made of linen or hemp, often over other garments. It served as a protective outer layer, sometimes worn with a black cotton cap and a red scarf with white polka dots.

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

Lighting homes with oil and water carafes

Homes were often illuminated by oil lamps (lamponnette) or candles placed in glass lanterns, while on dark days, workers used a spherical water carafe to concentrate candlelight.