Former shoe factory Van Haren - Waalwijk

VanHaren has been a household name in the Netherlands for almost a century. It all started in 1929 when Ivo van Haren opened his shoe shop in Waalwijk. Today, vanHaren has grown into one of the largest shoe retailers in the Netherlands, with nearly 150 shops across the country and an extensive online presence. The beating heart of the company is still in Waalwijk, where both the head office and the logistics centre are located.

The history of vanHaren goes back to 1913, when Johannes van Haren started a leather business with his three sons. Ivo van Haren started his own leather business in 1923, which led to the establishment of the Ivo van Haren shoe factory in 1927. At the time, it was unusual for the factory to produce exclusively for its own shops. By 1937, vanHaren already had 1,400 employees and a weekly production of 21,000 pairs of shoes. Although the factory was occupied and damaged during the war, vanHaren managed to recover and expand further.

In 1985, the family business was acquired by German company Deichmann Schuhe. The former factory at Hoogeinde has now made way for a designer shop, while the head office and distribution centre are located on the arterial road in Waalwijk. VanHaren remains an important employer and a leading name in the shoe sector, with a strong focus on both quality and accessibility.

Photo: ©VisitBrabant Routebureau