Alix de Lannoy

Countess Alix de Lannoy was a Belgian noblewoman and the mother of Stephanie, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.

Frugal clothing maintenance habits

People often wore clothing until it was heavily mended; it was not considered shameful to wear a pant with a patch or a sweater with mended elbows. For special occasions, some men would still wear the black jacket and striped trousers they had first worn at their wedding twenty years earlier.

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.

Radio listening became immensely popular

By 1939, radio listening became a widespread habit in Belgium, with the number of radio sets soaring to over 1.15 million.

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.

Wartime travel and fuel costs

During World War II, strict fuel rationing forced civilians to rely on bicycles or overcrowded trams, and private car travel became extremely rare. Petrol for the few permitted vehicles cost between 30 and 50 francs per liter on the black market.

Car travel changes perception of distance

By the 1950s, affluent citizens began shifting their perception of distance, measuring travel not by kilometers, but by the duration of the journey in their private cars.

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.

Daily Life: Water, Heat, and Toilets

Many working-class homes lacked running water and electricity, requiring families to fetch water from a public pump and use coal stoves or gas lamps for heating and lighting. Toilet facilities were typically located outside the main house, often requiring a cold walk to a backyard shed.

Three hours waiting for butter ration

In early 1941, a person had to wait in line for three hours in the cold just to receive a ration of 120 grams of butter.

Wartime bread was sticky and gray

During the 1940s, wartime bread contained additives like pea or bean flour and straw, resulting in a sticky, gray loaf that had to be left for 24 hours before it could be sliced.

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.

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.