Klompen
800 years later, they're still wearing wooden clogs here.
Ask someone to name four iconic images of the Netherlands and one will be windmills. A second will be bikes. The third will be tulips.
And the fourth will be Klompen — wooden clogs.
Wooden clogs have been around for more than 2,000 years — first used by the Chinese. They have been worn by the Dutch since the 13th century.
Made from willow or poplar, they are still used by the Dutch who work in the countryside and I can see why. This is a very wet country and the countryside is muddy. Klompen keep your feet dry and also protect as well — some say better — than steel-toed boots.
Because museums exist for everything, there is actually na International Wooden Shoe Museum in the town of Eelde. It has the largest collection of wooden footwear in the world. There’s a virtual tour if you want to check it out.
Very pretty klompen. Have you gotten some for yourself yet?