Convert Dutch elle to inches in one click
1 ell x 27.08 = 27.08 in
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Ever tried reading a 17th-century Dutch fabric merchant's ledger? You'll find measurements in "ellen" everywhere - but what does that mean in modern terms? Whether you're restoring antique textiles, studying ship manifests, or just satisfying historical curiosity, our Dutch elle converter bridges the gap between Renaissance craftsmanship and today's imperial units.
Unit definitions
What is a Dutch elle (ell)?
Description: The elle (sometimes spelled "ell") was the principal cloth measurement unit in the Netherlands from medieval times through the early 19th century.
Symbol: ell
Common uses: Measuring bolts of linen, wool, and sailcloth
Definition: Standardized in 1725 as exactly 68.78 centimeters based on a brass reference rod kept in Amsterdam's town hall.
What is an inch (in)?
Description: The inch remains one of the most widely used imperial/US customary units globally.
Symbol: in
Common uses: Screen sizes, plumbing fittings, woodworking
Definition: Legally defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters since 1959 through international agreement.
Conversion formula
Dutch elle to inches:
1 ell = 68.78 cm
1 inch = 2.54 cm
Thus: 1 Dutch ell = 68.78 ÷ 2.54 = 27.08 inches
Calculation formula:
Inches = Dutch ellen × 27.08
Dutch ellen = Inches ÷ 27.08
Example calculations
- Converting 3 ellen to inches:
3 × 27.08 = 81.24 inches
That's equivalent to 6 feet 9.24 inches - taller than most door frames! - Converting 50 inches to ellen:
50 ÷ 27.08 ≈ 1.846 ellen
Imagine a 16th-century tailor measuring this for a nobleman's robe.
Conversion tables
Dutch elle to inches
| Ellen | Inches |
|---|---|
| 1 | 27.08 |
| 2 | 54.16 |
| 3 | 81.24 |
| 4 | 108.32 |
| 5 | 135.40 |
| 6 | 162.48 |
| 7 | 189.56 |
| 8 | 216.64 |
| 9 | 243.72 |
| 10 | 270.80 |
Inches to Dutch elle
| Inches | Ellen (approx) |
|---|---|
| 10 | 0.37 |
| 20 | 0.74 |
| 30 | 1.11 |
| 40 | 1.48 |
| 50 | 1.85 |
| 60 | 2.22 |
| 70 | 2.59 |
| 80 | 2.96 |
| 90 | 3.33 |
| 100 | 3.70 |
History
The Dutch elle's story begins at the crowded textile markets of 15th century Amsterdam. Merchants originally used their forearm length ("elle" comes from "elbow") to measure cloth, leading to disputes when a seller had long arms! This chaos prompted the city council to create standardized brass ell rods in 1544. The final 1725 standardization coincided with the Dutch Golden Age's peak, when 600 ships a year exported ell-measured fabrics globally..
Interesting facts
- Hidden rulers: Amsterdam's Nieuwe Kerk still has 17th-century stone ell markers embedded in its walls for public verification.
- Fraud prevention: Cloth merchants had to renew their ell rods annually, with inspectors checking for wear.
- Global influence: Dutch trading posts introduced the elle to South Africa (where it evolved into the "Cape ell") and Indonesia.
- Art connection: Vermeer's "The Cloth Shop" painting shows an elle stick being used to measure blue dyed fabric.
- Modern legacy: Some Dutch upholstery shops still display antique ell rods as decorative heritage pieces.
FAQ
Before standardization in 1725, Dutch cities used local body parts (like arm lengths) as reference, causing slight differences in measurements.
The Amsterdam elle (68.78 cm) was shorter than the Frankfurt elle (54.7 cm) but longer than the Scottish ell (94.5 cm).
Officially replaced by the metric system in 1820, but some antique textile dealers still reference it for historical patterns.
Our tool uses the 1725 standardized value, accurate to within 1 mm of the original brass rod standard.
Absolutely! Just enter inches in our calculator and select 'inches to Dutch elle' mode.