There are now only 320 shoemakers in Belgium, after a heavy decline over the past ten years continued into 2025.
The number of shoemakers was officially above 400 five years ago and more than 500 a decade ago, according to Iris Houben, Chair of Shoefed, the Belgian Federation of the Shoe Industry and Leather Crafts, in De Zondag.
“Our profession is experiencing significant ageing, leading many shoemakers to retire without successors. Additionally, the abolition of the flat-rate VAT system has caused some to shut down their businesses,” said Schouben. “Moreover, there is no longer any shoemaking training available in Flanders, resulting in almost no influx of new craftsmen. And due to competition fears, not every shoemaker is willing to train someone.”
Shoemakers also note a decline in the quality of footwear. “There is a lot of frustration about the materials used,” said Houben. “Shoes are often so cheap that when they break, it’s not worth repairing them. People prefer to buy a new pair instead. The sustainability trend seen in other sectors is still quite absent in the shoe industry.”
