Dutch term – Slop

A slop is a slum, a neighborhood with low quality housing. In some cities, like The Hague, the word slop was used for a particular little type of slum, a small alley in between main streets, lined with cheap housing.

During the 1800s, many cities grew dramatically. Factories offered jobs, and drew many people from the countryside to the cities. Housing could not keep up with demand, and every little bit of space was used for housing.

Slum in Breda, 1936. Credits: Stadsarchief Breda.

About Yvette Hoitink

Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG®, QG™ is a professional genealogist, writer, and lecturer in the Netherlands. She has a Master of Letters in Family and Local History from the University of Dundee, and holds the Certification of Genealogist and Qualified Genealogist credentials. Yvette served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists and won excellence awards for her articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly. Yvette has been doing genealogy for over 30 years. She helps people from across the world find their ancestors from the Netherlands and its former colonies, including New Netherland. Read about Yvette's professional genealogy services.

Leave comment

*