Figure 1.--This photograph from the rural village school of Zijtaart in 1942 shows quite a number of the children wearing wooden shoes. The Dutch text read, "De volgende serie van vijf foto's uit de collectie van Harrie Vervoort is onder enig voorbehoud op 1942 gedateerd, gebasseerd op de paar namen van kinderen die bekend zijn. Voorste rij vierde van links is Harrie Rooijakkers. Zevende van rechts is Jan Munsters, hij draagt schoenen. De meeste kinderen dragen nog klompen. Op de klassefoto's van 1946 zijn het schoenen. Tijdens de Tweede Oorlog waren schoenen op de bon en was men daar heel zuinig op." This translates as, "The next series of 5 photos from the collection of Harrie Vervoort is dated 1942 and based upon the names of children who were known. First row fourth from left is Harrie Rooijakkers. Seventh from the right is Jan Munters. He is wearing [leather] shoes. Most of the children wear wooden shoes. During World War II shoes were rationed and one had to be was very frugal." When the Dutch source states that shoes were rationed, this meant leather shoes. We don't believe that wooden shoes were rationed which is why so many children are wearing them.

Wooden shoes are called "klompen" in Dutch. Holland a few centuries ago had thousands of clogmakers. At that time, almost all clogs were made by farmers. Specialize tools were not needed. These old fashioned, handmade clogs were for the most part created using tools that the farmers already had and were use for various other purposes. A folk tradition developed. Many farmers decorated the shoes that they made. The Dutch tradition of clog making began to change in the late 19th century. There had always been some clog makers in cities who produced clogs as their main occupation. The number of selfemployed clogmakers started to increase after 1870. That was not only the result of the increased population, but even more importantly because of the agricultural changes in the Netherlands. The ordinary farmer didn't have enough time left to produce clogs. We are not sure how common wooden shoes were after World War I. We don't see them very commonly in the photographic record, although our Dutch archive is limited. We do note some school portrairs with many boys wearing wooden shoes. It is likely that World War II gave klompen a new lease on life.

Terminology

Wooden shoes are called "klompen" in Dutch.

Clog Making

Holland a few centuries ago had thousands of clogmakers. At that time, almost all clogs were made by farmers. Specialize tools were not needed. These old fashioned, handmade clogs were for the most part created using tools that the farmers already had and were use for various other purposes. The Dutch tradition of clog making began to change in the late 19th century. There had always been some clog makers in cities who produced clogs as their main occupation. The number of selfemployed clogmakers started to increase after 1870. That was not only the result of the increased population, but even more importantly because of the agricultural changes in the Netherlands. The ordinary farmer didn't have enough time left to produce clogs.

Importance

Clogs were primarily important because leather shoes were expensive. Thus they were mostly worn by working-class people, factory workers in the cities and farmers in the country. This same dynamic occurred in Belgium, France, and Germany. We are unsure why they were particularly common in the Netherlands.

Folk Tradition

A folk tradition developed. Many farmers decorated the shoes that they made.

Chronology

We do not have much information on wooden shoes during the 19th century, but think they were quite common, especially in rfural areas. We are not sure how common wooden shoes were after World War I. We don't see them very commonly in the photographic record, although our Dutch archive is limited. We do note some school portrairs with many boys wearing wooden shoes. It is likely that World War II gave klompen a new lease on life. Leather shoes probably were in very short supply during the War, especailly the later years of the War. One HBC reader tells us that Wooden shoes were common in the Netherlands. until the late 1950s. Nowadays boys in rural areas may still wear them--although it is no longer as common as it once was. One Dutch reader, reports, "They are cheap, durable and comfortable. Another reader tells that it is a mistake to think of wooden shoes as a thing of the past. He writes, "I would like to point out that the farmer in Holland still wears his wooden shoes. Not because of the tourists gaping at him but rather because it is a sensible choice for him in the wet fields of Holland.

European Regulations

A few years ago, the European commission decided that wooden shoes were not safe to wear and should be outlawed in industry. Formal tests were carried out and it was decided from these tests that wooden shoes were very safe indeed.

Comfort

While it is true that for the average person, used to leather shoes or sneakers, it may sound very uncomfortable to wear wooden shoes, the truth is that a pair of 'klompen', properly sized and worn with woolen socks is very easy to wear. You should see the kids in the rural areas of Holland run and play, while wearing wooden shoes!" Dutch clogs were made out of poplar. Poplar has a fiber that is tough but still flexible during the working of the wood. Poplar wears well, and gives the clog a long life.

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Created: 7:23 PM 11/23/2008
Last updated: 8:39 PM 11/6/2009