This is a pic of the automated machine that carves out the inside of the wooden shoes. It uses a shoe for a pattern and carves out one exactly like it. Takes about 5 minutes to complete one and they use Popular wood. This is a rack of shoes set out to dry. The shoes are carved using green wood. It keeps them from cracking. They make about a thousand pairs a year.
I'd never thought as to how wooden shoes are made. Thanks for posting the photos so those of us who don't go on fabulous vacations and see interesting sights can share in your adventures! Did you try on a pair? I've always thought of them as terribly uncomfortable since they have no flex, but perhaps after you learn to walk in wooden shoes they are more comfortable than they look.
I tried a pair on and weren't too uncomfortable. About like walking in a pair of clogs. They are sanded inside, but are still a little rough. I bet you would wear out a pair of socks really fast. He did say that the more you wore them, the smoother they got. But they were very expensive I thought. I pair that were painted were $30 and up.
I was going to ask you Capt, I thought those were clogs? Is there a difference? Either way thanks for the behind the scenes look.
Clogs here are wooden soles, but with leather uppers. Some places like in the country of Holland I am sure that they are hand carved. The guy that was doing the machine carving said that they had a hand carver, but that he had passed away. They couldn't find another one with his skill. Also I learned that the tulip farm part of the operation, plants 5 million bulbs a year. They had huge boxes of tulip bulbs for sale. They had every color imaginable, but they were fairly expensive.
I tried on a pair of wooden clogs in Holland but couldn't walk in them. Ian has a pair of the wooden soled ones with the leather upppers - much more comfortable.
We went to Holland Michigan for the first part of the trip. It is in the southwest corner of the state.
What a surprize to see these pics onhere. I would be surprized if anyone there could find these shoes comfortable. They are effective, though and good to work in. I haven't worn mine for a while, as I have found some nice rubber ones that are good for everything except pushing a spade into the soil. Nice to see these pics. I have been to Holland Michigan and enjoyed the experience, but found few folks that could speak proper Dutch. hahaha. That big windmill made me feel right at home. Thanks for showing these.
