Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium

Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium was Grand Duchess of Luxembourg as the wife of Grand Duke Jean. She was the first child of King Leopold III of Belgium, and sister of the late King Baudouin and former King Albert II and aunt of King Philippe.

Boys' and youth clothing trends

Starting around 1936, golf breeches that bloused around the calf became popular for Sunday best, while boys typically received their first pair of long trousers around age 17 or 18 as a sign of becoming a man. Children’s weekday clothing was less of a concern, with schoolchildren often wearing iron-shod boots and short trousers.

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.

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.

The rise of jazz culture

Jazz became a major craze in the 1920s and 1930s, with Belgian cities hosting their first jazz concerts and tournaments for amateur dance orchestras.

Train travel times between Belgian cities

In 1926, a non-stop express train connected Brussels and Antwerp in 40 minutes, while a journey from Brussels to Cologne took 5 to 6 hours.

Memorable Survival Tactics and Tools

To save money and ensure winter food supplies, families bought potatoes in bulk, sometimes 1000 kg at once, which were stored in specially prepared cellar bins lined with straw. To carry heavy water buckets from public pumps, people used a 'reep', a modified bicycle wheel without spokes that helped balance the weight and kept the buckets away from their legs.

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.

Retail price index surge, 1926

During the post-war inflation period in Brussels, the retail price index reached 750 in 1926, which was 7.5 times higher than the pre-war level.

Income of industrial worker families, 1928-1929

In the 1928-1929 budget inquiry, some industrial worker families earned at least 24,000 francs annually, a threshold that separated them from white-collar families.

Common Blue-Collar Jobs in Belgium

Blue-collar jobs were concentrated in industries such as metalwork, mining, transport, construction, and textiles.

Earnings in Domestic and Industrial Work

In 1942, live-in Hungarian maids earned a minimum of 350 BEF per month, while an unskilled labourer in 1945 earned 5.60 francs per hour.

Skilled Belgian postmen delivered mail accurately

Belgian postmen were known for their skill in finding recipients even with incomplete addresses, and residents often tipped them three or four sous for registered mail.

Tram-based express mail service

In Brussels, mail boxes were attached to electric trams, allowing people to post express letters for an extra fee of 25 centimes.