In the middle of Waalwijk, this museum connects the rich past of the leather and shoe industry with the future. The transformed, national monumental Kropholler complex from the 1930s has been awarded Public Building of the Year 2022. This true family museum boasts an immense collection of more than 20,000 objects, including 13,000 shoes. You will truly encounter all ages here.

This museum, study center, workshop, laboratory and stage is certainly not just about looking, but also about awareness and participation. In the words of an enthusiastic visitor, "What a great museum! Very educational, creatively designed. Also so much fun to design your own shoe! Compliments to the guides; they spoke about it with such enthusiasm. TOP!"

Full production process
In addition to museum, the Schoene...

In the middle of Waalwijk, this museum connects the rich past of the leather and shoe industry with the future. The transformed, national monumental Kropholler complex from the 1930s has been awarded Public Building of the Year 2022. This true family museum boasts an immense collection of more than 20,000 objects, including 13,000 shoes. You will truly encounter all ages here.

This museum, study center, workshop, laboratory and stage is certainly not just about looking, but also about awareness and participation. In the words of an enthusiastic visitor, "What a great museum! Very educational, creatively designed. Also so much fun to design your own shoe! Compliments to the guides; they spoke about it with such enthusiasm. TOP!"

Complete production process
In addition to being a museum, Schoenenkwartier is also a knowledge center. Experience the entire production process: from the tanning of skin to supple leather, to the moment the shoes are shipped in a nice box. With various permanent and temporary exhibitions, the research library, the workshop space and the 'make lab' (for design and prototyping), you rightly imagine yourself in the Dutch leather and shoe city. But the view of the Schoenenkwartier goes far beyond that of curator of a rich past. You will also find many innovative and sustainable materials and alternatives in the museum café and museum store.

"Beautiful museum."
Visitors rave about both the inside and outside: "As attractive as the outside is, it raises high expectations for inside. These have been far exceeded. A blueprint for museums!". And you may not only feel the beautiful books and materials here to your heart's content, but during workshops (sign-up required!) you can also make beautiful things yourself. So sign up, come by and design - under expert guidance - your own bag, sneaker, leather flowers, choker or bracelet....

Exhibition: Put on the Bold Shoes (April 20-Sept. 15, '24)
Always been curious about wearing pumps, even as a tough guy? Or perhaps longed for extra height with funky platform soles from the 1970s? Discover it all starting April 20 at Schoenenkwartier in Waalwijk. In the exhibition "Put on the Bold Shoes," leave your comfort zone and step straight into the shoes, boots or slippers you've always dreamed of but never had the courage to try. Become a part of the exhibition by showing on the catwalk who you really are or who you would like to be. Do you dare?

Reading tip: our colleague Toby went to visit the Schoenenkwartier and wrote this fun blog about it.

The Schoenenkwartier is located on the following routes: