One of the Dutch trademarks is the wooden shoe. Even though they are not a part of our daily outfit anymore (for the most of us anyway), they still play a big part in our history and culture.

The eldest wooden shoe ever found dates from 1230 and was found in Nieuwendijk in Amsterdam. It was made out of the alder. The second eldest clog was found in 1280 and 28 centimeters long and 12,5 centimeters wide and also made out of the wood of the alder. They became so  popular because they were firm and safe, so perfect for farmers.

Making wooden shoes was a special craft and those who had this occupation were respected and part of the clog guild. The average clog maker could produce seven wooden shoes a in thirteen hours. Cottonwood  and the wood of willows was and is the most often used material to make these shoes. Over the years there were several different wooden shoes found, in different shapes, sizes and decorations. Nowadays most wooden shoes are made in the factory. For example, the wooden shoe company Nijhuis Klompen, has 40 employees and makes around 3500 clogs a day.

The wooden shoe is still very popular in Holland, especially among tourists, but some farmers still wear them as well. By now they have a special trademark that guarantees safety for its user.  Besides as a shoe, the Dutch use the clog also for a house for birds, a mailbox or as a flowerpot. And of course we also have a couple of sayings regarding the wooden shoe:

Nu breekt mijn klomp (Now my clog breaks): I don’t believe it!

Iemand iets uitleggen met de klomp: (Explaining someone something with a clog): Explaining something to someone the hard way

Op de klompen aanvoelen (to feel it on the clogs): seeing something coming that is very predictable

Zijn klompen wegbrengen (Bringing back his clogs): Going back home

Zijn klompen wegzetten (To put his clogs away): Dying

Iets tegen zijn klomp krijgen (To get something against his clog): Getting rejected