I 
1821.] Domestic Habitg and Amusements of the Dutch in 1820* 221 
two old gentlemen, but the real busi¬ 
ness is to settle pecuniary affairs in a 
satisfactory manner; which generally 
takes place, as they are always well in¬ 
formed before hand on this subject. A 
further delay of a few weeks, however, 
still takes place, before the lady’s 
father gives his final consent. This 
having with much formality been given, 
all reserve between the lovers is in¬ 
stantly thrown off, and the next day a 
large party of their young friends 
accompany them a few miles out of 
town, and the afternoon is spent in 
mirth and jollity. They are now con¬ 
sidered as onder trouwd , a word nearly 
of the same meaning as betrothed, but 
it does not imply that the parties are 
bound to each other, as either is at 
liberty to withdraw, and the maniage 
seldom takes place till a year after the 
period of which we are speaking. An 
advertisement is now put in the news¬ 
paper stating that such and such per- 
, sons are onder trouwd , and another is 
inserted at their marriage, to announce 
that they are getrouwd (married.) As 
soon as the consent of relations is given, 
the lover has access to his mistress 
whenever he pleases, and he sometimes 
spends whole days in her company in 
her father’s house, nor is the least re¬ 
straint felt by either, though the whole 
family, young and old, and even stran¬ 
gers be present. Indeed the stiff for¬ 
mality which was so strictly observed 
before, is now exchanged for unbounded 
freedom, and what we should consider 
as gross indelicacy. The young couple 
lavish the most extravagant endear¬ 
ments upon each other, and it must be 
confessed that the lady is by no means 
loath in returning the fondness of her 
lover, frequently entertaining both the 
sight and hearing of the spectators 
with the ardent marks of her attach¬ 
ment. We have witnessed all this and 
a great deal more, again and again, 
and often in the midst of a large party 
- of both sexes and all ages, yet nobody 
seemed to be conscious of either the 
impropriety or indelicacy of it. This 
state of things continues about a year, 
when the marriage takes place, if nei¬ 
ther party withdraw, which is seldom 
the case. The marriage is celebrated 
by a magistrate, a burgomaster always 
attending at the town-hall for that pur¬ 
pose ; a certificate of their ages, and 
that they have the full approbation of 
their parents or guardians, must be 
produced. The ceremony is very short, 
but most people are married again by 
a clergyman, on the same day, though 
this is by no means necessary to render 
the marriage valid. The old custom 
of throwing the stocking is still kept 
lip even among the rich, and the happy 
bridegroom is exposed to all the mis¬ 
chiefs that his friends may think pro¬ 
per to teaze him with, such as spoiling 
the lock of his chamber, or shutting up 
a cock or hen in the room, which do 
not fail to awake the young couple 
betimes. 
The Dutch are remarkably fond of 
making verses, and they never fail to 
gratify this propensity on such occa¬ 
sions. We have seen many of these 
effusions, and though but few of them 
had any claim to the appellation of 
poetry, the versification was generally 
good. The authors always read such 
tribute of their affection or respect 
during the wedding feast, addressing 
themselves with great formality to the 
new married pair, who always appear 
highly gratified by them. Sometimes 
a masquerade takes place, and such of 
the guests as are capable of personating 
a character, come forward and make a 
speech to the happy couple, who on 
this occasion are placed upon an ele¬ 
vated seat to receive the addresses. It 
must be confessed, however, that all 
this is conducted in a very childish 
manner; there is a want of dignity 
and elegance throughout, and this re¬ 
mark may be applied to all the amuse¬ 
ments of the Dutch. There is in their 
mixed society a degree of trifling in 
their conversation, which to persons of 
a different disposition is always unin¬ 
teresting, and frequently disagreeable 
or disgusting. 
There are certain times and seasons 
of which much notice is taken among- 
the Hollanders, such as the first day 
of the year, and some other festivals. 
At Christmas, the oldest and richest 
members of the family circles receive 
the congratulations of their relations 
and descendants with great formality. 
Many of the younger members write 
congratulatory verses, and all are ex¬ 
pected to testify their respect in some 
manner. Those who expect to be re¬ 
membered in the wills of those old 
worthies, always endeavour to distin¬ 
guish themselves on such occasions. 
When any of those old rich people 
reach a certain age there is a formal 
levee held, at which all the family 
connections, male and female, appear, 
often to the amount of some hundreds. 
The old lady and gentleman are seated 
at 
