Hedevig Ulfeldt

Hedwig of Schleswig-Holstein was the daughter of king Christian IV of Denmark and Kirsten Munk. She was the twin of her sister Christiane Sehested. She shared the title Countess of Schleswig-Holstein with her mother and siblings.

Value of linen clothing

In 1641, three new linen shirts were valued at three daler and three mark, showing the significant value of textiles.

Amager women required eleven aprons

Women in the village of Store Magleby on Amager needed to own at least 11 different aprons to have an appropriate outfit for every occasion.

Payment customs for public musicians

Musicians were paid set fees for performances at public events, but they often received extra coins when a plate was passed among the guests.

Popular musical instruments of the era

Common people frequently used the recorder, bagpipe, shawm, and harp, while the lute, zither, and clavichord were considered noble instruments.

Eight-day travel to Hamburg

In 1624, the post route between Copenhagen and Hamburg took 8 days, with a weekly coach service carrying mail and passengers.

Travel by horse, wagon, and ferry

In 17th-century Denmark, people traveled between towns primarily by horse and wagon, on horseback, or on foot, as no railways or steamships existed during this period. Cross-country travel often required crossing water bodies using established ferry routes to connect the different Danish provinces.

Lack of schooling for children

Children in Nyboder received no schooling in the 17th century and were instead made to work away from home.

Open fires and smoky kitchens

Many farmhouses lacked chimneys, relying on open fires on the floor with a smoke exit hole in the roof, which made cooking smoky and eyes sore.

Beer was the standard daily beverage

Ordinary families in Denmark drank beer throughout the day, including children, because fresh water was often not available or unsafe. An adult was expected to consume at least twelve barrels of beer annually.

Daily diet relied on porridge and kale

Daily meals for ordinary people were simple and centered on staples like porridge and bread, while kale was a crucial winter vitamin source because it could survive outdoors year-round. Porridge and bread were essential parts of every meal, and meat or fish were consumed when available, often salted or dried.

Cost of cleaning a privy

Cleaning a privy at a Copenhagen courtyard in 1621 took four nights of work and cost 34 daler and 11 skilling, including a 3 daler and 16 skilling repair fee.

Rye bread price in the 1600s

In the 1600s, a pound of rye bread typically cost 1 to 2 skilling, though prices could rise significantly during grain shortages.

Compulsory labor on manors

Tenant farmers were often required to perform compulsory labor for landlords, which included bringing their own tools and horses for tasks like plowing, sowing, harvesting, and transporting fuel or manure. These duties, known as servitude, could be intensive during peak farming seasons, though farmers could sometimes send a servant in their place outside of these times.

Economic disparity and side jobs

Wealthy farmers might own luxuries like silver cups and spoons, while cottars without land struggled for survival, sometimes becoming day laborers who were paid primarily in food. Despite social expectations, some peasants engaged in illicit trade, such as selling fish or goods from other countries to earn extra money.

Establishment of the Danish Postal Service

Denmark's formal postal service, established by Christian IV in 1624, connected major cities with routes like the one from Copenhagen to Hamburg. Initially, mail was mostly carried by foot, but the use of mounted riders increased significantly after 1640.