Lamoral II Claudius Franz, Count of Thurn and Taxis

Lamoral II Claudius Franz, Count of Thurn and Taxis was a German nobleman and Imperial Postmaster. He took over the post of Imperial Postmaster General from his mother when he came of age in 1646. He obtained permission from the Emperor in 1650 to change his family name to von Thurn, Valsassina und Taxis, but then opted for the shorter von Thurn und Taxis.

Importance of linen underwear layers

Both men and women wore linen underwear next to the skin to protect their woollen outer garments from dirt and body oils. Linen was preferred because it was easier to wash and less irritating to the skin than wool.

Women's outdoor cape called a huik

When going out in public, women typically wore a cape known as a huik, which covered their heads and hung down their backs to their legs. This garment was functional for warmth and protecting against weather, and it was used by all social classes.

Popular instruments for village dance and fairs

At village fairs and festivals, musicians commonly played instruments such as trumpets, flutes, bagpipes, fifes, and drums to entertain dancing crowds. The combination of a flute and a small drum (tabor) was a classic, inseparable pairing for accompanying rural festivities.

Serenades and signals of the day

Serenades, known as evening songs, were performed outside a loved one's window using instruments like harps, lutes, and flutes. The morning watchman also played a role by blowing his horn and singing songs to signal the dawn to lovers.

Pioneering five-hour canal schedules

The canal service between Brussels and Willebroek was a pioneering public transport system that officially required the journey to be completed in no more than five hours. To handle icy winter conditions, boats were sometimes reinforced with iron and pulled by many horses to act as icebreakers.

Slow but punctual canal travel

Tow barges were remarkably slow, typically traveling at a speed of only 3 to 4 km per hour. Despite this, they maintained strict, reliable schedules and would not wait for late passengers.

Children and adults drank beer for safety

Because water in cities was often polluted and unsafe to drink, people regularly consumed beer instead, even children.

Schooling in a single room

Education for children was often organized in a single common room of a house or an annexe, where boys and girls of all ages were taught together. Teachers used a ferule to punish students who misbehaved by striking the flat of their hand.

Beer as the common drink

Beer was the customary daily drink for all ages, as local water sources were often heavily contaminated.

Shared dining habits

Until the late 17th century, people ate stews and porridge from a shared communal dish, while other solid food was eaten by hand.

Daily wages for unskilled labor

In the Ghent region, unskilled laborers earned 20 to 24 groten Vlaams per day during the seventeenth century.

Rye prices in Ghent markets

Between 1594 and 1700, the price of rye in the Ghent and Deinze markets fluctuated strongly between 50 and 232 groten Vlaams per halster.

Diverse occupations in the Southern Low Countries

Common jobs included specialized construction work like carpentry and masonry, as well as roles in the expanding book trade and lacemaking, which often employed women and children. Many people also worked as day labourers in agriculture or construction, performing tasks such as digging trenches and clearing debris.

Long working days and regulated hours

Working days were long, typically starting at 5 or 6 am and continuing until 8 pm, with short breaks for meals. Regulations often prohibited night work and Sunday labour, though some specialized roles had slightly different start times.

Travel time between Lille and Brussels

A messenger leaving Lille on Monday afternoon would reach Brussels by Wednesday around noon, passing through Malines on Thursday.

Messenger travel time in 1617

A messenger traveling from Lille to Brussels in 1617 departed on Monday afternoon and arrived on Wednesday around noon. The full round trip, including stops in Malines, took one week.