New-York tribune., 1901-10-08
COOKS IN HOLLAND.
THEIR DUTIES AND DISTINCTIVE DRESS
A MODERN DUTCH KITCHEN.

.eNot long ago | was privileged to become
member Of a family living in Rotterdam" said an
American woman yesterday. For me the oppor-
trnitv was fraught with innumerable benefits In
the study of Dutch housekeeping and the relation
between mistress and maid their duties and their
attitude toward each other. widely different
from our own. The material TO start upon Is OBJ
vioulv better. for with the exception OF few
English mportations the servants are of Dutch
nationality and work and die in their native at
nosphere They are not alone conservative in this,
hut in their dstaste acquiring methods. the
old and tried being quite TO their liking. and TO
that of all people concerned The domestic class
IS largely drawn from artisans. mechanics and
tradespeople and some from the peasants. a re-
spectacle lawabiding, cleanly class. content with
their station faithful conscientious in the dis
charge Of their duties
mo servant enters service without first record
ing her name at the 'Wyk Meester,' or workmas-
ter. her residence and place cook. chamber
maid or waitress etc And here let me make
note: AS far as l could ascertain, the women or
TEoIlsnd are strictly honorable in their recon-
nneudation A servant upon leaving her place must
notify the 'XYyk Meester' Of her intention
Upon engaging a servant (Which is sometimes
done as far ahead as three months) the mistress
gives the maid certain sum OF money as a re-
tainer or 'godspenning,' which binds the mald 10
her word as well as the mistress TO hers. II. by
sny chance. the former has TO change her plans
the sum will he returned. and due notice given
Servants are engaged quarterly. a good cook de-
handing from 100 TO 100 gulden year, or about
SO 10 SIS 4 quarter.
The house where / visited in the city, and
had MANY modern accessories. Some people read
Ing Of Holland picture only the court or peasant
life ignoring that Of the middle or professional
class. Artists haze frequently represented the
Dutch peasant kitchen that we are tamlhar with
It's details Imagine now, if you can fair sized
room on what we consider the parlor floor for
most Of the houses built over store or ONCE
only the very modern dwelling houses having base
ments. A stove not range, OF heavy oiack sheet-
ron such as we frequently see in the toy klicheh
,f German importation, stands beneath the Wiue
chimney place. The trimmings are OF nlckel OF
brass. two compartments hold the turf Which
they burn in the place of coal. The object OF the
two CRATES is economy Above tnG t Enfied cur
.sin OF calico and here against the wall are lne
srticles so dear 10 the of proper minded
Dutch cooks Here are the brass or copper pam the
rings. matchbox and lamp, all exqulste IN tle ,ar
used but the tradition of the kitchen demands
beir presence and conspicuous. indeed, TO me eye
If a Dutch cook would be their absence: in fact
oubt if could engage Teputanle sedHtIi sentiIitW
Our Dutch kitchen boasts of no oilcloth b9t IN
place tiled floor of marble With b PaI9r ronni
and raised about half foot from the moor. S On
z easa is ean m8hfs @heFse rIE the dinner
hey may sit soeiably around the lamp fITies GrIEs
with which the mistress partakes OF hers III the
How often have sighed for the cleanly slab slab
pf gray marble which does service 6 r6r eh e onIY
,old water tap. however. ,.,,lo for
all Of the washing is Of the house so Inil
ler duty is in nowise complex She Is speci"i9''
"a woman of the upper classes in Holland never
goes 10 market; all commodities are piobsi tb mr.
the house, the cook generally making the p pm
:hases She pays all current bills from a st sun, n
given her by the mistress once a weeh tot . n ETor
ihe render account each evening, fpd E
his she has a neat little book. in whlch 'he
snlloer. stuver and dubbeltl must agree ,,e7,s
Bette the cook, never bakes bread, muilInn nn
sake or pie-these are all sent from the caterer
VIII nor
fishes and relishes? The tea and coffee are are, al, IL
ways made the table. The halls. not st sindi. ~ -
iize, Of marble, with narrow strip OF carpet ~
he centre. and the long. often winding stairs az az
hem up TO the required standard of cleanly Hol-
and In many households the runner is taken w
zach morning. halls and stairs washed ana cat
ef and the COOK only ea conssng
oread and butter. cheese and sometimes d ~ the
:gs with tea, is prepared BY the mistress Oh 'ie
The servants have their distinctive dress bul
oy the cap one see at a glance wnether az. da
sgn In Rotterdam the cook dresses IN tne reSu- r
alton blue and white cambric. with whlte ttt mhTt
apron and cap heavily huted in the 'front.' "hi''
stockings and soft shoes. - A.,
The cook washes the marble 'stope, ana by @ trs
Dutch aneessors a she keeps the brass
s yeH and handle polished, then she pins up ne ne,
sne washes the street, drawing the water from
convenient faucet placed on the outside OF IN IN
1pd n, on how aysh she is Snresae wh tna Ia tn
.htreme but shs is also delightfully."- practical am
,esig; ,seitGgI; she has been well trained and assu,e
sshain TO me of her presence-her bargaining VII
farmer who brings his cart 70 the door n p,le
.sa.yllngly displayed fiat baskets; her StaHoih;
sia5s 10 receive the milk from the mix , wot',a n %
rsa her cart drawn by the big. friendly doe ne
.aailng 10 remove the muddy overshoes ana U
sah them as she welcomes you home