National
Shoe Museum |
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When the museum was founded
in 1968 it was envisaged to expose the most beautiful
shoes of Izegem and to keep them for posterity.
The shoes of the years 1920-1930 constitute the core
of the 20th century fashion. The vocational school of
Izegem and the firm Eperon d’Or were the shoe
suppliers of the royal family. The young ladies of honour
at the princess Mathilde and prince Filip’s wedding
wore shoes of Izegem (mark: Belgian Shoes), copies of
which can be seen at the museum. |
Eperon d’Or brand 1920-1930
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Le Coq brand 1920-1930 |
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Never else in a European shoe museum
can the visitor see in such a detailed way how shoes
are made by hand as in the museum of Izegem.
This is to be put at the credit of former teachers
of the vocational school who worked out each stage of
the production process in a didactic way. |
Detail of the production process |
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Then the visitor can make a fashion
travel through the times.
The shoe quickly evolved from a simple protection of
the foot to a symbol of prestige. Poor people walked
barefoot while rich people showed off wearying shoes
with high red heels decorated with a conspicuous ribbon.
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Musketeer Boot – Louis XIV Shoe
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Finally the visitor can
contemplate a beautiful collection of shoes from other
countries in the world.
Amongst others : the opanques from Serbia, embroidered
slippers from Morocco,
gin-lien shoes from China, moccasins from India with
pearls, alpargatas from Ecuador etc. |
Slipper from Morocco |
Pakistani Shoes – Chappal for ladies and
Jooti for men |
Gin-lien shoes |
Sandals made of car tires from Mali |
Opening hours
Individuals:
From tuesday till saterday
from 10 till 12 hours and from 14 till 17 hours
During Christmas holidays and january –february:
closed for individuals
Official holidays: closed
Price: € 2 per person, seniors: € 1,5 per
person, students € 1 per person.
Visitors in group
During the whole year, only after reservation
Price: € 1,5 per person
A guide can be asked.
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