Figure 1.--Belgian boys began wearing short pants in the 1900s, but kneepants were more common until after World War I (1914-18). Here it is difficult to tell if the boy is wearing kneepants or short pants because the early short pants were so long. The popularity of Scouting was a factor in the growing popularity of short pants. This boy photographed in 1910 wears turn-over-top kneesocks. Note the turtle-neck sweater.

Belgian boys mostly wore kneepants in the late 19th century, but short pants became more common by the 1910s, and were mostly worn by Belgian boys after World War I. It is often difficult to identify the two as the first short pants were quite long. Belgian boys also common wore short pants. The growingbpopularity of the Boy Scout movement was probably a factor here. Short pants at the times were a boys' garment. By the 1930s, a girl might wear shorts for sport or at the seaside, but they remained primarily a boy's garment through the 1950s. The cut of girls' shorts were not the same as the short pants worn by boys. Kneepants had been worn with both short socks and long stockings. Boys in the 1920s and 30s commonly wore short pants with kneesocks. Shorts were very commonly worn by Belgian boys through the 1950s. Boys of all ages wore them, including most younger teen agers. Even some older teemagers wore shorts. Older boys might wear knickers and long pants. This varied from family to family. Belgium is a very traditional country. Boys in Belgium continued to commonly wear shorts even after other boys in Europe were wearing long pants and jeans. Corduroy appears to have been a popular material. We have not yet developed information on the types of pants worn by Belgian boys. There is a page on suspender shorts

Created: July 4, 2002
Last updated: February 27, 2004