Engraving and text from The costume of the Netherlands
After drawings from Miss Semple - Ackermann London - 1817

 

Maid servant of Rotterdam

This girl, by taking off two or three petticoats and a breadth or two from each of those she wore, fancied, notwithstanding ber cap and her slippers without quarters, that she had given herself quite the appearance of an english girl. This fashion is become pretty prévalent at Rotterdam, among the younger part of female servants.
She had been buying ready-made coffee, which, as well as boiling water, may be purchased in the shops at any hour in the day.

One wonders why a Rotterdam maid would, around 1800, want to look like an Englishwoman, when the war with England of 1780 was still on people's minds. Note her beautifully decorated blouse with flowers and that she is wearing gold earrings. (Editor's notes)
Translated with DeepL