Tracing the Footprints of Traditional Wooden Clogs

Modern clogs come in multiple forms for both men and women. From high heels to low, from open heels to closed, from sandals to shoes – modern clogs are famous not only because of their diverse types, but they’re a unique set of footwear crafted with wooden soles, and these wooden clogs are extremely comfy and durable.

What many of us don’t know is that clogs are not a novel invention. They’ve been in use since time immemorial. Clogs were used as protective footwear in parts of Europe and Asia. Indeed their appearance has changed in today’s time, but the essence of traditional wooden clogs remains the same. Let’s trace the footprints of wooden clogs from all around the world:

Træsko from Denmark

The oldest traces of clogs in Denmark are found in lime paintings that date back to 1100. Therefore, we can assume that medieval people wore clogs as a part of their attire. It was also a commonly used by peasants as protective footwear.

Clogs from the Netherlands (Klomp)

Traditional clogs from the Netherlands were entirely made of wood and covered the whole feet. They are still manufactured (approximately three million pairs a year) and sold throughout the country. A large part of the klompen are bought as travel souvenirs. Some Dutch market gardeners and farmers still wear traditional wooden clogs for their primary purpose – protection of feet.

An interesting fact about Dutch clogs being manufactured today is that they’ve been officially accredited with the CE mark as safety shoes.

Clogs from the United Kingdom

The earliest use of wooden footwear in the UK can be traced back to the Roman times (possibly prior to that). People who were too poor to afford proper shoes supposedly wore wood (directly against the skin) – the clog seems to have found its birth in the UK, partly made of wood (at the bottom) and partly with leather (at the top).

With the eruption of Industrial Revolution, the use of clogs became more apparent in the Britain, as industrial workers required strong as well as cheap footwear. Men wore laced clogs and women wore clasped clogs. This was the heyday of traditional clogs in Britain, though they were associated particularly with Lancashire.

Forms of Dance Associated with Traditional Clogs

• A Northern English step dance.
• A Dutch style of dance known as Klompendansen.
• A form of English folk dance known as Morris dance is sometimes performed wearing clogs.