Wooden shoes in the Netherlands

Wooden shoes are the most famous feature of Dutch dress. The history of wooden shoes dates back more than 800 years, when leather shoes were a luxury for the rich and famous, while the common people would make durable wooden shoes during the winter months when they were not working on their farms.

The wood of poplar and willow became the best raw material for wooden shoes, and they were usually made in the relative isolation of people's own villages or districts. In this way, over the centuries, wooden shoes have developed into a combination of warmth, sturdiness, resistance to moisture and sweat, and comfort, while at the same time displaying different regional characteristics.

Wooden shoes in the Netherlands are also a token of engagement. Traditionally, when young men and women get engaged, the man has to give his hand-made wooden shoes as a token to the woman. Almost every Dutch man in his life to do at least a pair of exquisite wooden shoes to send his fiancée. These wooden shoes are delicately shaped and beautifully patterned. The common pattern is two intertwined hearts, symbolizing love, on the cheeks of the Turkish buttons, symbolizing eternity, together signifies love surrounded by eternity. If the man gave the woman's wooden shoes beautiful and very and feet, the woman thinks the man is capable, sincere heart, love her, the future marriage must be reliable, happy. On the day of engagement, the future bride can wear the wooden shoes to show her engagement. Sometimes after the wedding, she will continue to wear the wooden shoes, but usually because the bride wooden shoes are too beautiful, they can not afford to wear, often hang the wooden shoes on the wall of the new room, symbolizing the life of happiness and good luck.