Frederik Oldenburg

What people wore

Everyday footwear and trousers

Peasant men often wore knickers made from tanned buckskin, and both men and women typically wore clogs for everyday and festive activities.

Daily life

Water and Beer Consumption

Drinking water was often contaminated due to proximity to waste and latrines, leading many to avoid plain water in favor of beer, which was a standard beverage for all social classes.

Work

Compulsory labor for estate owners

Many tenant farmers were required to perform compulsory labor for estate owners, which could include providing their own equipment, such as wagons and horses, for tasks like hauling or plowing. By the mid-17th century, roughly half of noble tenant peasants were categorized as weekday men who owed at least one day of unpaid labor per week.

Music

Town musicians held exclusive performance rights

Privileged town musicians held a monopoly on all paid musical performances for citizens and farmers, often charging for their services at weddings and feasts.

At the table

Common breakfast of beer porridge

A common breakfast for many, including school children, consisted of warm beer and bread porridge, sometimes served with butter.

Getting around

Introduction of passenger mail coaches

In 1653, the Danish postal service began operating mail coaches that carried both passengers and parcels twice a week.

What it cost

Daily Wages for Workers

In the 1650s, a laborer typically earned about 16 to 24 skilling per day, while a master mason could earn 36 to 40 skilling daily.