Convert Dutch Elle to centimeters easily.

Ever stumbled upon an old Dutch fabric receipt mentioning "ellen" and wondered how that translates to modern measurements? You're not alone. The Dutch Elle, a unit that once ruled textile markets during the Netherlands' Golden Age, now lives mostly in history books—but converting it to centimeters remains crucial for historians, antique collectors, and curious minds. Let's unravel this 68.78 cm mystery together.

Units explained

What is a Dutch Elle (elle)?

The Dutch Elle was the ruler of cloth measurements in the 17th-18th centuries. Picture a merchant in Amsterdam's bustling market, stretching fabric from elbow to fingertip—that's the rough origin of this unit.

• Symbol: elle
• Common uses: Measuring textiles, ribbons, and ship sails
• Definition: Standardized as 68.78 cm in Amsterdam, though other cities used slightly different lengths

What is a centimeter (cm)?

The centimeter is the metric system's answer to precise small measurements, equal to one hundredth of a meter.

• Symbol: cm
• Common uses: Everyday measurements, science, engineering
• Definition: 1/100 of a meter, established during the French Revolution

Conversion formula

Dutch Elle to cm:
Centimeters = Ellen × 68.78

Cm to Dutch Elle:
Ellen = Centimeters ÷ 68.78

Example calculations

1. Converting 3 ellen to cm:
   3 × 68.78 = 206.34 cm
   That's taller than most refrigerators!
2. Converting 150 cm to ellen:
   150 ÷ 68.78 ≈ 2.18 ellen
   Roughly two full arm-lengths plus a bit extra.

Conversion tables

Dutch Elle to centimeters

Centimeters to Dutch Elle

Historical background

The Dutch Elle's story begins in teh 1600s when the Netherlands dominated global trade. Merchants in Amsterdam, Haarlem, and Rotterdam each had their own elle standards—talk about confusion! The Amsterdam Elle became dominant through sheer economic power, standardized at 68.78 cm in 1683. Imagine trying to buy silk in Leiden only to discover their elle was 2 cm shorter than Amsterdam's !

The metric system replaced regional units in 1820, but you'll still find ellen mentioned in ship manifests and textile archives. Fun fact: Dutch painters like Vermeer likely used elle measurements when depicting market scenes.

Interesting facts

1. Body-based measurement: The original elle approximated an adult's arm length, but official standards used metal rods.
2. Trade power tool: The Dutch East India Company shipped millions of ellen-measured fabrics to Asia.
3. Legal disputes: 17th-century court records show lawsuits over "short ellen" cloth sales.
4. Modern remnants: Some Dutch quilting patterns still reference ellen measurements.
5. Global cousin: Similar units exist worldwide—the Turkish arşın and Swedish aln both mean "ell."

FAQ