Trading in the Village of Doel in the 1950's and 1960's.

The village of 1500 inhabitants counted about 30 hotels, restaurants and cafés and as many shops and trades. Villagers, farmers, tourists and resident of the nearby Lillo did their shopping there.

The people of Doel could acquire everything they needed in the village. Everyone knew each other and shops were often meeting places.

The less privileged people lived in the so called Backstreet, farmers and notables were the richest. They all visited the shops. Some people had to by on credit because of financial needs. 

There were many farms at the sides of the village, but also in the center. At some farms people could buy fresh milk or vegetables. 

The grinder went to pick up the grain at the farms. He grinded it and delivered the flour to the bakers. He also was a farmer himself. 

There were three bakeries in Doel. They also sold groceries, ice cream and pastry. Several bakers from outside the village delivered in Doel as well.

There were several grocery stores. They sold fruit and vegetables, meat, clothing, textiles, yarn, ornamentals, medicines, … Children liked them the most because of their candies.

Several traders combined businesses:
a grocer with farmer utilities,
one with a taxi company, cafés combined with hair dressers, farmers, coal merchants, traders in fish, vegetables and flowers.

There were two butcheries, one of which was also a café.
Customers could await their order there or in a pub elsewhere. Some people bought animals directly at the farm, to slaughter themselves at home. 

The river Scheldt has always been an important part of Doel.
At the quay one could buy fish and shrimps straight form the fishing boats. In the village was a fish trader with a shop as well.

There were two shoemakers. One mainly sold shoes, the other one slippers. Different stores had textiles and clothing. People could buy fabrics or have their clothes made.

To decorate the house, one could go to the paint shop to buy paint, wall paper or materials or let the painter come over to do the house.

The house could be decorated with furniture or a kitchen bought by the local furniture store.
In wintertime, around the period of Santa Claus, the shop sold toys as well.

There were two electricians and three forges in the village. Clients could buy there bicycles, heaters, household appliances, horseshoes and even gasoline. They also could order a plumbing job.

A transporter with horse and carriage, a liquor store, a soup merchant, a photographer, a telephone centre, a bus company, timbers, builders, hair dressers, bankers and a car sales man: Doel had them all. 

Most stores were named after their exploiters. Many shops were held by spouses or siblings. Often, the children took over the business from their parents.  atmosphere in Doel remained always friendly.  They all sat and drank together in the local pubs in the village.

In the 1960’s stores generally grew bigger. Small businesses slowly vanished. Due to a building stop from 1965 to 1978 and expropriation, many trades could not survive.

A lot of discontinuations followed due to a lack of follow up and the threat of the vanishing of Doel. The last remaining shop, the one of Charles and Marcella, remains operational until 2012.