Chronicles

The draaikooi was a spinning cage that was used as a public punishment for prostitutes and adulterous women. The condemned was strapped tightly to a chair inside an iron cage. Once secured, the cage was spun at high speed while crowds gathered to watch. Spectators eagerly waited for the inevitable moment when the victim would become nauseous and started vomiting.

In 1766, a leaflet was distributed through the city announcing that you could visit the garden of Simon van Roon to see a truly extraordinary beast for just 3 stuivers (pennies). It is a truly spectacular sight; the beast is normally only exhibited in the Courts of the Princes and Princesses of Oranje and Nassau.

During the (high) Middle Ages people worked very had and had little time for recreation. A workday lasted from sunrise till sundown. For some jobs, your shift could easily last much longer than that, 40-hour shift were not uncommon when working in the harbour. Only on sundays and holidays you had the day to yourself.

Do you have a token from the tour but can't quite remember what it represents?

During the tour I told the story of the spies who were active in Rotterdam during World War I and handed out small pieces of charred parchment. At first glance, they appeared to be empty. But were they?

In the 18th century, Rotterdam’s watchguards patrolled the streets carrying a rattle. The rattle consisted of a wooden frame with a hammer inside. When they made a small movement with their hand, the hammer struck the wood and produced a strong sound. They used this sound to indicate the hour and to let residents know they were nearby and patrolling the area.