Best Handmade Shoes
A charming southern belle - the Amsterdam South that is - with a degree in fine arts and a hankering for making her own purses, Jenneke is always on the hunt for the treasures Amsterdam shops have to offer. Her keen eye for art, fashion and beauty, exposes the most original spots in the city. Join her on unusual excursions through the maze of streets to eclectic places you may miss discovering on your own.
Feet first
There are shoes, and there are shoes. We all have the match-it-all, somewhat worn-out, dependable shoes you throw on in a rush, or there’s that wicked pair of instant goddess pumps.
Amsterdam has plenty of shoe shops to suit every imaginable taste and budget, but beyond those are a select few that embellish your feet with a bit of handmade designer heaven.
The shoe makes the man
... And the woman. Dutch designer Jan Jansen has been designing shoes for many years. He has three shops in Amsterdam; a women's shoe shop on the Rokin, a 'vintage' Jan Jansen outlet shop at the Roelof Hartstraat and a shop at the Vijzelstraat. The latter sells men’s shoes that the client can have customised to his own taste.
How it works: You choose a model from the displays on the wall, then start thinking about the colour (a wide variety including metallic) and the print. The supple leather is calf’s leather and comes in numerous prints -- for example an intricate, snake skin-like print. There’s also pony skin leather dyed in various eye-catching colours. Once you’ve decided on your perfect shoe, it is made by hand, especially for you, by a Dutch shoemaker. It doesn't get more original than that.
When the shoe fits
... You match it with the right purse. Dutch designer Hester van Eeghen is famous for her bags, but also designs fantastic women’s and men’s shoes. All shoes are handmade: the men’s in England and the women’s in Italy by three different Italian families (which results in the sizes differing at times).
Styles range from chic and classic to a total statement on your feet. Some shoes are named after famous actresses -- so what do you think the Gloria Gaynor looks like? Exactly, it’s a colourful sandal with a towering high heel reminiscent of the disco era!
There’s also a charming shoe inspired by the 20s flappers, with a tiny heel and little strap, available in different colours and subtle prints. And, once you’ve decided on a shoe, you can go down the same street for a matching bag by the same designer.
Beyond the clog
Situated in the heart of the red light district is Labeuf Shoes. This divine shop sells a variety of Dutch and international brands, handmade children’s slippers from England, and their own brand: Labeuf.
Owner Maryline Liabeuf designs shoes with wooden soles and fabric tops, and has a small studio in the shop. You can choose from a low to a high heel. At the moment, Maryline is experimenting with recycled material (such as the sack cloth bags from the coffee beans sold next door).
Previous collections included fabric from pattern books, but if you want to bring in your own fabric they'll make that shoe for you too. Other brands here are TMK, by Dutch designer Suzanne Poort, United Nude, by Rem D. Koolhaas (cousin of the Dutch architect) and the British Galahad J.D. Clark.
Made for walking
There is an odd little shop that, from the outside, looks as if it simply sells Spanish pottery and furniture. The name of this gem of a store is Terra, and once inside you’ll find they also have great shoes. Vialis is a Spanish brand that produces handmade shoes based on traditional Spanish women’s shoes. Beautifully crafted and very comfortable to boot.
The biggest hit in this shop are the Spanish riding boots. Dutch owner Myriam Sanderse travels to Spain a few times a year to brainstorm new ideas with traditional boot maker 5V. The result is a very comfortable boot based on the traditional Spanish riding boot, but with subtle differences that make them all the more attractive: a little higher or lower on the leg than normal, a higher heel, a totally original colour. They have boots for men and women, and they sell mainly through word-of-mouth (website is in the making).
- Tell a friend
More tips by I Ambassador Jenneke
Recent I ambassadors tips