Prince Francis of Denmark

What people wore

Homemade clothing and purchased finery

Ordinary people often made their own clothing at home from materials like wool, linen, and animal skins, while finer items like silk or damask were purchased for special occasions.

Daily life

Avoiding Drinking Water

It was common to avoid drinking water in Denmark; beer was preferred even by children because water was often considered unsafe due to poor sanitation and contamination in wells. If water had to be consumed, experts like Henrik Ranzau recommended boiling it slowly first to remove its impurities.

Work

Beer as a dietary staple

Because unboiled water was often unhealthy and milk was scarce, beer was the most common daily drink for the population.

Music

Pipes and Drums in Social Gatherings

Drums and pipes were used much more frequently than today, not only for military purposes but also at weddings and other social gatherings. A skilled musician, often called a piper, frequently played the pipe and small drum simultaneously.

At the table

Herring and kale as staples

Salted herring was a staple food for many, supplemented by kale as a crucial winter vegetable because it could survive outdoors all year.

Getting around

Standard travel by foot or wagon

Ordinary people primarily traveled on foot or by horse-drawn peasant wagons, as standard travel distances were measured by a day's journey of approximately 50 to 70 kilometers.

What it cost

Prices of poultry in 1510

In 1510, a goose could be purchased for 1 skilling dansk, while a hen cost 6 penninge dansk.