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

 

Boy selling flowers in the streets of Rotterdam

Although there is great variety in the dresses of the women in Holland, the broad-brimmed hat, tight black jacket, blue stockings and silver buckles, usually worn by men and boys who have anything to sell in the streets, as well as shopmen and many others, do not allow of much description.
This boy was very handsome and offered his “Flowers to Sell” with so much civility, and in so pleasing a manner that it was impossible to refuse spending a few stivers with him.

Funny... The drawing is therefore the work of Miss Semple, who in front of this very pretty boy (she says) does not have those contemptuous words she uses when describing women's clothes (Editor's notes)
Translated with DeepL