WAALWIJK .- On April 16, 2022, the Schoenenkwartier will open to the public in the west wing of the nationally listed Kropholler complex in Waalwijk, in the heart of Langstraat. Here, on a floor space of more than 3000 m2, a new museum concept under a new name will illuminate the history of shoes and leather as well as its future.The Schoenenkwartier rests on three pillars: the Making Labs, the Knowledge Center and the Museum. It therefore aims to be more than just a museum, much more than just a curator of the rich past of the leather and shoe industry. As a podium, workshop, study center and laboratory, the Schoenenkwartier owns a unique profile that requires not only admiration and learning, but also participation and awareness. This profile makes the Schoenenkwartier very attractive to young generations, or rather, also to younger generations.

A brand new name, a brandnew concept

The predecessor of the Schoenenkwartier, the Dutch Leather and Shoe Museum in Waalwijk, was founded in 1954 and closed its doors to the public in 2017. The work continued. Museum activities such as conservation, digitization, research, knowledge promotion and loan traffic solidified the foundation for the comprehensive initiative that will start in 2022, with a brand new name: Schoenenkwartier.

The word 'kwartier' (quarter) in this name refers to the new accommodation, the west wing of the Kropholler complex with its multiplicity of functions, its diversity of construction periods and its recent renovation by CIVIC Public Architecture. But it also refers to Waalwijk's past as (inter)national headquarters for shoes and leather, and to the tradition of the city where buildings and institutions are named after elements from its history of shoe making.

Create, learn, meet and amaze

The strength of the Schoenenkwartier rests on three pillars: Schoenenlab (Shoe&Lab), Schoenenkennis (Shoe&Knowledge) and Schoenenmuseum (Shoe&Museum). It's power is based on creating, learning, meeting and amazement. In the freely accessible entrance area on the ground floor, you will find the museum shop, the café and the Making Labs. Professional designers, shoemakers, leather workers, artists and craft students work on their designs in the various Labs. In a variety of workshops, visitors are invited to design, create and experiment themselves. In the museum shop you will find a wide range of custom products, ranging from books and souvenirs in the field of leather and shoes to tools, Dutch design and the Schoenenkwartier's private label. In the museum part of the ground floor, the visitor imagines himself in a factory. There are machines on display and some of them are still working and being demonstrated. The entire production process of the shoe is visible and audible, from the first leather processing to the shoe box.The first floor houses the heritage of the Langstraat, the center of the Dutch leather and shoe industry since about 1750. Period rooms not only offer a look at the past, but also offer a glimpse into current events. They show social history, tell the associated folktales and signal current developments in leather and shoe designs. On this floor, a full wing of the building has also been reserved for the Knowledge Center. In addition to an auditorium, this center includes a library, an archive room, a database, material cabinets and spaces for educational purposes.

On the second floor, the emphasis is set on 'identity'. The shoe, apparently something obvious, has an infinite number of culturally determined variations. Often aesthetics and wearability compete for precedence, or the nature and appearance of the shoe says something about the wearer. Place and time, profession, religion, rituals, orthopedics, and performance improvement - the whole (shoe) world collides here: from stiletto heels to platform soles, from Nike Air Max to Balenciaga sneaker. Twice a year there is also a temporary exhibition on this second floor with underlying themes such as fashion, design, sustainability, craft, and innovation. Events, workshops and other activities in the manufacturing labs, the atrium and the auditorium are always linked to these exhibitions.

National and international allureThe Schoenenkwartier's collection consists of Dutch masterpieces, supplemented with special designs and objects from other parts of the world. It goes without saying that objects by greats such as Jan Jansen, Charles Bergmans, Lola Pagola, René van den Berg, Liesel Swart and Peter Popps are on display. They gave Dutch shoe production a world-class name; stars such as Lady Gaga and Beyoncé also turn to Dutch designers for their footwear. At the same time, the Schoenenkwartier distinguishes itself in the field of knowledge and research. Partnerships with national and international institutes relate to experiments with leather and alternatives to leather, and to new ideas for sustainability. As the new director of the Schoenenkwartier, Anouk van Heesch, puts it: "As a connecting link between craft and innovation, between industry and education and between heritage and contemporary design, the Schoenenkwartier aims to be an institution of national and international value and allure."




Program 2022-2024

The Schoenenkwartier has put together a variable, accessible and informative program for the coming years. The emphasis is alternately on leather and shoes, on other applications of leather or on new technology. The starting point is the Schoenenkwartier's own collection, craft and specialism.

• Put On Your Red Shoes (Idol Icon Influencer | music and shoes from the 50's onwards - spring 2022)

• The magic of cuir bouilli (fall 2022)

• Future Proof: the sneaker's future (spring 2023)

• Wouter Paijmans (2023)

• René van den Berg (fall 2023)

• Leather Jackets (spring 2024)

• Fly Me to the Moon: Moonboots and Materiality (fall 2024)