Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

Wilhelmina was Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 until her abdication in 1948. She reigned for nearly 58 years, making her the longest-reigning monarch in Dutch history. Her reign encompassed World War I, the Dutch economic crisis of 1933, and World War II.

Complex waistband took 90 minutes

Peasant women in Hindeloopen spent an hour and a half just arranging their complex black waistband sash.

Large garnet jewelry and hidden ears

In some hamlets, peasant families possessed garnet necklaces with stones as large as a swallow's egg. Gold earrings were also common, often worn fastened to the cap while the ears themselves remained hidden.

Church singing and organ accompaniment

Protestant church services often featured congregational singing accompanied by four-part choral music or organ playing.

Private wedding celebrations with singing

Weddings were joyous occasions where singing was essential, though guests preferred to celebrate privately at home behind closed shutters to avoid public attention.

Steam trains revolutionised travel between towns

With the arrival of the steam train in the late 19th century, travel between provinces became much faster, for example allowing travel between Apeldoorn and Amsterdam within two hours. Companies even offered promotional tickets for one guilder to attract passengers.

Horse-drawn trams offered smoother urban travel

In the late 19th century, horse-drawn trams were common for city and regional travel, with rails providing a smoother ride than the bumpy cobblestones. The number of tram passengers surged from 14.5 million in 1880 to over 170 million by 1910.

Children and work at age twelve

Children from lower-class families left school at age twelve, as allowed by law, to begin working in factories for up to twelve hours a day.

Hygiene and household lighting

Drinking water was frequently contaminated, leading to high infant mortality from stomach and intestinal diseases, while households relied on candles or oil lamps for light.

Food consumed half of wages

In the late 19th century, more than 50 percent of a worker's weekly wage was often spent on rent and food.

Gin as a common drink

Workers often drank gin, which served as a stimulant to ease hunger and escape the harsh reality of their daily lives.

Basic food costs for families

In a budget analysis from 1865, essential weekly food costs for a family included 7 kg of wheat bread for 0.98 guilders and 2 kg of rye bread for 0.22 guilders. Meat was a rare luxury, often only consumed if an animal died unexpectedly.

Weekly wages of an ordinary worker

Workers earned roughly 5 to 10 guilders per week, though many struggled on 6 guilders or less. Employment was often irregular, and laborers frequently relied on charity or bread support during winters.

Child labor and harsh beginnings

Children as young as twelve years old worked twelve-hour days in factories, often starting their day on an empty stomach with only dry rye-bread to eat.

Extreme working hours and shifts

Some industrial workers in extreme cases worked 24-hour shifts or 96 hours a week, sometimes fueled by the fear of losing wages if they stayed home to sleep.