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Claire Françoise Liebaert Courtain

Born Antwerp, 16 Jul 1935

3 facts1 source

Living person. The family sees only the name, dates and photo; everything else stays private unless they choose to share it.

Facts and their sources

  • Born16 Jul 1935, AntwerpTaken as verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 16 Jul 1935

    Born in Antwerp

  2. 15 Jan 1968

    A son is born

Family

See the tree

Partner

Children · 1

During her lifetime

She has lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Antwerp.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1930s · Claire is born in Antwerp

In the news1935

First electric railway line opened

On May 5, 1935, the national railway company opened Belgium's first electric line between Brussels-Nord and Antwerp-Central.

Daily life

Childhood Chores and Schooling Experiences

Children's daily routines involved chores like fetching water or tending to animals, while schooling was often disrupted, especially during the war years. Some schools eventually introduced amenities like communal showers, though access to such facilities remained a luxury for many.

Work

Standardizing the Working Day

The eight-hour workday and 48-hour workweek became standard in 1921, though many domestic workers often labored for longer hours without fixed schedules.

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.Around the world · 1939–1945

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.

Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHoM) Robert F. Sargent · public domain

What people wore

Daily attire for working-class men

In the 1930s, working-class men typically wore caps, with a deep cap for weekdays and a flat cap for Sundays. Men also commonly wore suspenders, sock garters, long drawers, and, in the summer, alpaca jackets.

Music

Dancing and social life for youth

Young people often went dancing at age 16 or 17, and many young women relied on partners to pay for drinks because they only had about 10 francs in pocket money.

What it cost

Decline in food budget share

By the late 1940s, food expenses accounted for approximately 45 percent of a worker household's budget, a significant decrease from about 58 percent in 1929.