The "comptoir" is also found in the homes of the rich, and the lady of the house often sits there with her children, not because it is the most attractive place, but in order to keep the better rooms neat and clean. In rich houses many of the rooms are known by individual names, - some according to the use to which they were put, others on account of the hangings, the name of the occupant, or an important piece of furniture. Hence we have the salon, dining-room, show-room, the sleeping-room, the little cabinet (office), the gold leather room, the damask room, the matted room, the room of Adam and Eve, Mr. Arends's room, Miss Emerentia's room, Mr. Cornelius van Beveren's sleeping-room, etc., etc.

In wealthy homes the walls of some rooms were encased in tiles, decorated with painted figures, flowers, arms, or pictorial scenes or mottoes; and upon these hung many fine paintings in richly carved ebony frames. In some houses every available space on the wall in every room was occupied by a picture; so that from top to bottom the rooms were filled with masterpieces of art. Some rooms on the ground floor were hung with splendid tapestries, representing hunting-scenes, Biblical stories, coats-of-arms, mythological and historical legends and stories, etc., etc. Other rooms were hung with embroidered materials, with red velvet, with gold or silver flowered borders, or with gold or stamped leather of various colours and patterns. Sometimes, also, the walls were panelled and wainscotted, particularly where beds or cupboards stood. In poor houses the walls were simply whitewashed or covered with square tiles of gay colours. The ordinary burghers strewed their floors with fine sand, and often arranged it so deftly by means of the broom in a design of flowers or geometrical figures that one would think a figured carpet was laid upon the floor.

In rich homes the floor, as a rule, was covered with fine Spanish matting; and when guests came, a rug or carpet was spread over this, but on their departure it was carefully rolled up and put away. Some of the floors - often those of the garret - were laid in coloured tiles.

One of the principal ornaments in rich houses was the painted glass. In some rooms every window was adorned with painted glass, but in less wealthy homes one window had to suffice. This was generally a round one painted in gaudy hues and neatly framed. Such glass was a favourite present. Sometimes the engraver had inscribed upon it Dutch or Latin proverbs; but more frequently it was embellished with the coat-of-arms of the master of the house, portraits, landscapes, Biblical and popular stories, such as Reynard the Fox, The Adventures of the four Heems Children, or The Drolleries of Tyll Eulenspiegel. The ceilings rested on heavy oak beams with many cross beams; and even in rich houses ceilings and beams were artistically painted. In the centre of the ceiling was hung a brass, or gilded wooden chandelier for wax or tallow candles; and additional light was derived from sconces fastened to the walls and on either side of the chimney-piece. Occasionally the candelabra were of crystal. In some rooms models of ships correctly rigged hung from the beams; and sometimes stuffed animals, heads, fish, weapons, and wedding ornaments and favours kept them company.

The chimney-piece always received a good deal of attention. It was very wide and high. Wood and peat were both burned on the large silver, brass, iron or steel andirons. The space in the overmantel was often painted by the best master available, or was occupied by a painting in a carved frame. On either side of the picture were sconces containing wax candles that illuminated the painting at night. The broad chimney shelf was occupied with Japanese and Chinese porcelains and lacquers; and in the summer time the pot that was suspended from a crane in the chimney was taken away and replaced by large porcelain vases and beakers. A handsome chimney cloth was usually hung just below the shelf.

Being exceedingly economical, the Dutch could not easily squander money for pleasures or recreations, but for the "home" they would spend lavishly. A handsome piece of furniture or silver, beautiful porcelain, rare tulips, rich curtains and rugs, valuable paintings, fine glass, and curios from the Far East would induce the opulent Dutchman to part with large sums; and his wife spent the greater part of her life in ornamenting and beautifying the home, taking care of the treasures it contained, and, above all, in keeping the house and its contents clean and in order. A rich merchant, Asselijn, said: -

Ziet wat cen fraei kastccl! wat licit het me gecost ! Myn gelt is nyet verbrast aan keur van vremde cost. Voor paerden en gery en zeldzacme sieraeden En gaf ik nyet een myt; geen bloem-fluweetgewaden Versieren 't stinchend lyf, de logge madenzak. Myn huys is myn sieraet, myn huys myn beste pack. Daer voor is myn tresoor, daer voor myn koffer open. En wat myn huys behoeft, dot haest ick my te koopen.

(See what a beautiful castle ! What a sum it costs !

My money is not spent in choice of foreign viands.

For horses and equipages and rare ornaments

I did not spend a mite; no flowery velvet dresses

Adorn the wasting body, the clumsy stomach:

My home is my ornament, my house my best costume,

Therefore my treasury and my coffer are open,

And what my house needs I hasten to buy.)

And Godewijck puts these words into the mouth of a daughter of an alderman: -

Myn stoffer is myn swaerd, myn bussem is myn wapen.

Ick kenne gcene rust, ick weete van geen slaepen.

Ick denck aen geen salet, ick denck niet aen myn keel.

Geen arbeyt my te swaer, geen zorge my te veel

Om alles gladdehens en sonder smet te maken.

Ik wil niet dat de maegd myn pronkstuck aan zal taken;

Ick selve wrijf en boen, ick flodder en ick schrob,

Ick aes op 't kleinste stof, ik beef niet voor den tob

Gelyck de pronchmadam.

(My brush is my sword, my besom is my weapon.

I know no rest, I know no sleep.

I don't think of my room, I don't think of my throat.

No labour is too heavy, no care I think too much

To make everything smooth and without blemish.

I will not let the maid touch my pretty things;

I, myself, will rub and polish, I will splash and scrub;

I hunt the speck of dust, I do not fear the tub

Like a fine lady.)

These are samples of many speeches in the old comedies, where the women constantly talk about house-cleaning and scrubbing.