The Inventory Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in the Netherlands contains ICH of which the communities, groups or individuals involved have written a safeguarding plan. Those plans are reviewed by an independent review committee. Every three years an evaluation of the safeguarding takes place.

Description

Several steps are to be distinguished in the production process of mechanical clog making. It is done with relatively simple machines, running at rather low speed. The machines are driven from a central point, the electric engine, with leather belts. First of all the wood is sawn or split. When the outer shape of the clog has been trimmed, the inside of the clog is drilled to the proper size. Moulds are used to achieve an optimum fit. The clog must be dried. Finally it is sanded and processed. Setting the machines right requires a high level of craftsmanship, knowledge of the properties of the wood and the machines. It is a technical challenge to produce a pair of clogs in a mechanical way. There is an annual, national clog inspection, where mechanically produced clogs are tested. They are judged for fit, model and quality. The manufacturer who is selected champion, is awarded the Silver Clog.

 

Community

There are still nineteen clog factories in the Netherlands. Most of them are located in the Achterhoek and North Brabant. The Nederlandse Vereniging van Klompenfabrikanten (Dutch Association of Clog Manufacturers) represents the interests of these companies. Souvenir shops are the main customers. Only road workers and some farmers wear clogs during their work. In various clog museums one can often admire a large variety of clogs.

 

History

Clogs were made by hand for ages. From the beginning of the twentieth century, however, nearly all the clogs in the Netherlands have been made mechanically. At first steam power was important. Later came the electric engines. The production in the clog factories was far higher than in the manual clog making workshops. As of 1926 the annual national clog inspection has taken place. The Silver Clog for the winning company was introduced in 1930. 1944 and 1945 were the only years that inspections could not take place because of war circumstances. After World War II the demand for clogs decreased rapidly. By making the machinery more advanced, production costs could be lowered in the sixties. But in the end more and more companies had to stop their production for economic reasons. There was a small revival, caused by the export to emigration countries, where many Dutch people had moved to after the war. Today clogs are mainly made to be sold as a souvenir. For foreigners the clog is the icon of the Netherlands.

 

Contact

Nederlandse Vereniging van Klompenmakers
Ambachtsweg 2
5492 NJ
Sint-Oedenrode
Sint-Oedenrode
Netherlands
Website