Hulpbevrouw

Hulpbevrouw is a historical Dutch term that refers to a female household assistant who served a mistress of a household. The expression is rare in surviving records, and its precise meaning varied by time and place. In many sources it appears as an alternative to related roles such as hulpvrouw (helper woman) or mevrouw’s attendant, reflecting a subordinate position within the domestic hierarchy.

Etymology and variants are not fully consistent across sources. The word combines hulp (help, assistant) with vrouw (woman) or mevrouw (madam), indicating a person who assists the mistress rather than a senior housekeeper. Some archival documents show variant spellings or related titles, suggesting that the term occupied a role close to other female attendants in noble or affluent households.

Role and duties likely varied by household but generally involved personal and administrative tasks connected to the mistress. A hulpbevrouw might have coordinated social engagements, supervised or assisted other female staff in the mistress’s quarters, run errands, or help with wardrobe and personal care. The duties were shaped by the specific expectations of the household and the status of the mistress.

Historical context and usage are mainly found in Dutch and Flemish archives from the early modern period through the 19th century. The term is largely obsolete in contemporary Dutch, with modern references more likely to describe similar positions as hulpvrouw, kamermeisje, or other household attendants depending on local practice. As such, the hulpbevrouw remains a relatively obscure, historiographical term used to describe a gendered, private-attendant role within older domestic hierarchies.