Frederik IX of Denmark

Frederik IX was King of Denmark from 1947 to 1972.

Heavy Hat for Amager Men

The Dutch-style hat worn by Amager men was made from angora goat hair and weighed 10 lbs.

Wardrobe Requirements for Amager Women

Women in the Amager region needed at least 11 different aprons to have a proper outfit for every occasion.

Transition in Danish folk dances and instruments

During the 19th century, traditional folk dances like the minuet and polska gradually declined in popularity, while newer round dances such as the polka, waltz, and mazurka became widespread. Violin and wind instruments like the clarinet and flute were preferred for these dances.

Weddings and musician payment in 19th-century Denmark

In the late 19th century, weddings were the most important festive occasions, often lasting two to three days with dancing until dawn. Guests might pay the musicians 3 to 6 marks per plate during these celebrations.

Expansion of the railway network

The Danish railway network grew to nearly 4,000 kilometers by 1914, and in 1883, train ferries were introduced on the Great Belt to improve competitiveness.

Travel across frozen waters

In severe winters, when the Great Belt froze, mail and passengers were transported in large boats that men pulled across the ice.

Exhausted students from farm work

In some rural schools, children from poorer families helped tend livestock before school, meaning they often arrived exhausted and fell asleep at their desks.

Low wages for domestic help

A maidservant, who might serve a family faithfully for a lifetime, earned only 6–8 kroner per month.

Thick milk and post-dinner traditions

A common and sometimes surprising Danish dish was thick milk, made by letting rich milk sour for days until it turned into a jelly-like consistency, then served with crumbled rye bread and sugar. Another popular tradition was for children to salute their parents after dinner by saying Tak for mad, meaning thanks for the meal.

Earnings and food costs for children

A child in 1882 could earn 25 øre for 500 small fire-starters, an amount that could buy only a quarter of a loaf of rye bread and 2 kilograms of fat.

Child labor wages and strikes, 1898

In 1898, factory boys in Nykøbing Mors earned 1.20 kroner per week and went on strike to demand 2.00 kroner.

Basic food prices, 1900-1920

The price of 1 kg of rye bread for a skilled worker was 0.14 kroner in 1900 and rose to 0.23 kroner by 1920. Over the same period, 1/4 kg of butter increased from 0.50 kroner to 1.70 kroner.

Harsh life for domestic servants

Domestic servants, often including young girls, frequently worked 12 to 14 hours a day and were legally bound to their masters until 1921. Many lived in harsh conditions, such as unheated attic rooms where water would freeze in washbasins during winter.

Child labor and harsh living conditions

Children from poor families often started work at age 7 or 8 as maids or farm hands, though an 1873 law eventually forbade children under 10 from working in factories. Domestic servants were sometimes subjected to harsh living conditions, such as sleeping in cold attics where ice would form in water basins during winter.