Royal Steam Shoe Factory A.H. van Schijndel - Waalwijk

Toon van Schijndel started his career as a shoemaker in Brouwers' workshop. During the Franco-German war, the shoe industry became very profitable, inspiring Toon to start his own shoemaking business in 1873. In 1889, he had to move due to lack of space, and with his father's help, he was able to take over new premises.

In this new premises, mechanisation had not yet been introduced, although Toon was familiar with its advantages. Competition from foreign machine-made shoes became so strong in 1895 that Toon persuaded his brother-in-law Herman Klütgen to invest in mechanisation. With support from his brother Huibert and the success of the Goodyear system in 's-Hertogenbosch, Toon managed to get a loan.

In 1900, Toon opened a new factory at 115 Stationsstraat and started machine production according to the Goodyear system. The factory was expanded in 1906 and in 1909 the company was granted the designation 'Royal'. A year later, the factory was converted into a five-storey building designed by Waalwijk-based architect Meulkens.

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