Princess Marie of the Netherlands

Princess Marie of the Netherlands was the fourth child and younger daughter of Prince Frederick of the Netherlands and wife of William, 5th Prince of Wied. She was the mother of William, Prince of Albania. Marie was also the last surviving grandchild of William I, King of the Netherlands.

Clothing signaled marital status

A woman's marital status was often signaled by her clothing, such as the position of a forehead pin under her cap or the knot of a neckerchief. For example, a forehead pin worn on the left indicated an unmarried woman, while the right side indicated she was married.

Layered skirts and hidden waist bags

Women often wore multiple skirts at once, sometimes up to six, which could be taken off as a single layered unit called a 'pels'. To carry personal items like coins or handkerchiefs, they used a small linen or cotton bag (dijzak) tied around the waist under their skirts, accessible through slits.

The introduction of the steam railway

The first railway line in the Netherlands, between Amsterdam and Haarlem, opened in 1839. This journey took approximately 25 to 28 minutes, marking a significant increase in speed over traditional methods.

Common travel methods in early 1800s Netherlands

In the early 19th century, people mainly traveled by horse-drawn barge (trekschuit), stagecoach (diligence), or on foot. Barges were known for their reliable schedules and affordability, while stagecoaches were faster but more expensive and hindered by poor road conditions.

Living in a single room

Many ordinary households relied on a single room for cooking, eating, sleeping, and working, with beds often tucked into wall cupboards to save space. Fuel for cooking and heating was expensive, so families sometimes cooked multiple meals at once to economize.

Schooling and child labor

Children frequently left school around age 12 to begin working 12-hour days, though classes were often large, sometimes reaching 80 students. Rural children faced particular hardships, as bad weather and difficult paths often prevented them from attending school during the winter.

Coffee and gin as essential drinks

Due to polluted well water, urban workers often drank weak coffee or chicory as a safer alternative, while gin was widely consumed for stimulation.

Potatoes as the working class staple

Potatoes became the primary food staple for the working class, often eaten at least twice a day with vinegar or mustard instead of fat.

Cost of basic goods

Around 1850, a pair of shoes cost 2.50 guilders and a suit cost 4 guilders. A daily wage of 1 guilder could purchase approximately 7 loaves of bread and 4 liters of milk.

Diet of the laboring class

Potatoes were the main food for laborers, often eaten with vinegar and mustard, while meat was a luxury item that most workers could rarely afford. Wheat bread was too expensive due to taxes, so laborers typically ate rye bread or bread made from barley or potato flour.

Child labor and tasks for children

Children as young as twelve were legally allowed to work twelve hours a day, often leaving home before dawn to work in factories or workshops. For extra income, children could also earn 20 to 30 cents a day by stripping bark from felled trees.

Daily rhythm of farm life

Farmers and their laborers typically woke up around 4 a.m. during the summer to start milking and cheese-making. The day ended around 9 p.m. after completing evening chores and a warm meal.

Cost-saving circular letters shared between towns

To save money, officials used circular letters that were passed from one village mayor to the next by a single messenger on the same day.

Extra delivery fees for rural residents

Rural residents often paid extra distribution fees of 2.5 to 5 cents per letter, as delivery relied on local agents or runners rather than formal post offices.