Directions From Belgium To The Netherlands In The 19th Century

(BELGIUM TO THE NETHERLANDS). D. 2pg. c. 19th century. Antwerp, Belgium. A document highlighting directions from Antwerp, Belgium to Rotterdam, Netherlands. An unknown scribe wrote in English : from Antwerp to Bergen op Zoom 7 Leagues half way you meet with the French custom house Inn at Bergen op Zoom the Golden Lion from Berg op Zoom to Breda 7 leagues & inn the prince Cardinal from Breda to Laage Swaluwe 4 Leagues you pay about 4 florins dutch money a horse Cross the river there. you pay to get the carriage into the boat f 1-0 to cross f 1-5 besides that. 6 Sols for each person. 6 sols a trunk 3 sols a portmantle &. f 1-0 to get the carriage out the boat. taking horses at the other side to Dordrecht 2 leagues Inn at Dordrecht the hotel de Bellevue taking horses at Dordrecht they will cross with you the water before by the place. and an other river at Ysselmonde and bring at the door of the inn at Rotterdam. you better make an agreement with the landlord at Dordrecht that the above horses brings you with your carriage clear of all expences as passage of rivers Barriers Thols and all other duties the fee of the coachman alone for you to pay a duit & duit makes one dutch Stuyver or Sol a Louis is generally worth in Holland f 11 - 4 I say elf guilders and four sols in some places they give two or four sols or Stuyvers more a dutch guilder is twenty Stuyvers or sols which makes about 42 french sols rather something more a Ducat f 5..5. This document gives directions from Antwerp to Belgium from the Loos family company, Van Gerd & Loos. Van Gend & Loos was a famous transport and postage company in the 19th century. The Loos family had a massive network of stagecoach services, and this document shows their assistance in navigating the complexities of travelling at this time. This document also highlights the monetary chaos of pre-modern Europe, highlighting the multi-currency economy, describing the traveler dealing with Dutch Guilders (Florins), Stuyvers, and Duits, but also needing to know the exchange rate for French Louis (gold coins) and Ducats. It warns that exchange rates vary in some places, showing that money did not have a fixed value across borders or even between cities. This document is in fine condition with dark ink.