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New Netherland, New York Genealogy
Obsolete Occupations of the Netherlands
© Cor Snabel
Soap maker (zeepzieder)
The soap making business goes back till the 15th century and
the ingredients were always strictly regulated in order to
protect the quality. The top years in the early 1600 could
be characterized by small-scaled production; most soap
makers had only two or three man on their pay list. Such a
small company could produce between 30 to 60 barrels of the
famous green soap per week. During the following 150 years
the companies grew, but the production and quality declined.
The Dutch zeepzieders produced two kinds of soap: summer-
and winter soap. The two main ingredients were hemp-oil and
coleseed-oil. From Martinmas (11 November) until Shrove
Tuesday (six weeks before Easter) the mixture contained two
parts hemp-oil and one part coleseed-oil and from Shrove
Tuesday until Martinmas two parts coleseed-oil and one part
hemp-oil. These two kinds of soap were called winter- and
summer soap. In later years linseed oil became the third
ingredient, but it had to be crystal clear, not turbid. But
increasing oil-prices forced the soap makers to bend their
rules sometimes; in 1704 and 1716 they were allowed to use
butter in the summer soap and in 1709 and 1740 they added
talc, which had a negative effect on the quality. Those
deviations from the rules were exceptions, the quality had
to be protected. Soap makers who broke the rules by using
fish-oil could count on a 300 guilders fine and closure of
their mill for at least three months.
The barrels in which the soap were stored had to have three
different brands: a W or S for the kind of soap, the mark of
the soap maker and the coat of arms of the town. An official
“burner”, appointed by the city authorities, did this; it’s
obvious that this had something to do with taxes.
>Choose from the following ancient occupations
Baker |
Beachcomber |
Beguine |
Candlemaker |
Dumpman |
Executioner |
Fanmaker |
Fireman |
Gravedigger |
Innkeeper |
Laundrywoman |
Nightwatch |
Peddlar |
Porter |
Seat Caretaker |
Ship Shanghai |
Soapmaker |
Streetpaver |
Tolltaker |
Pharmacist
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