From the 6th to 12th of January we will be closed due to maintenance on our building. All other days of the year, our daily opening times remain the same. See daily opening times
From log to clog
At the end of the 19th century, to deal with the high demand,
special machines were developed for the large-scale
manufacturing of wooden shoes. Making wooden shoes by
hand was far too labor-intensive and took at least two hours
per pair for a skilled wooden shoe maker. To get to that level,
it took about 7 years to learn the profession and make a
perfect pair of wooden shoes by hand. Until this day, we still
use these antique machines to show you the art of wooden
shoe making.
See the free wooden shoe making demonstration at De Zaanse Schans
1. The machine traces the shape of a wooden shoe model.
1. The machine traces the shape of a wooden shoe model.
2. The system is more or less identical to the copying of keys. Based on the model shoe, a block of wood is copied into a wooden shoe shape using quickly revolving knives.
2. The system is more or less identical to the copying of keys. Based on the model shoe, a block of wood is copied into a wooden shoe shape using quickly revolving knives.
3. A second machine uses the same technique to trace and cut out the inside of the wooden shoe using a razor-sharp rotating drill.
3. A second machine uses the same technique to trace and cut out the inside of the wooden shoe using a razor-sharp rotating drill.
4. The frame with the model shoe and the ‘soon to be’ wooden shoe tilts so that the drill can get into the nose of the wooden shoe and hollow out the inside.
4. The frame with the model shoe and the ‘soon to be’ wooden shoe tilts so that the drill can get into the nose of the wooden shoe and hollow out the inside.
5. The heel and nose of the roughly hollowed wooden shoe is cut into the correct shape using a ‘paalmes’, a sharp knife and special wooden shoe making tool. This part in the process is still done by hand.
5. The heel and nose of the roughly hollowed wooden shoe is cut into the correct shape using a ‘paalmes’, a sharp knife and special wooden shoe making tool. This part in the process is still done by hand.
6. The inside and outside of the wooden shoe is made smooth using a sandpaper belt.
6. The inside and outside of the wooden shoe is made smooth using a sandpaper belt.
7. In order to be able to work with the wood, it must be made up of approximately 60% water. Therefore, we only use fresh Poplar or Willow wood.
7. In order to be able to work with the wood, it must be made up of approximately 60% water. Therefore, we only use fresh Poplar or Willow wood.