Regional/Cultural Day
Nationale Klompendag
A day celebrating the klomp, the traditional Dutch wooden clog that has been worn in the Netherlands since the 13th century. The Netherlands produces approximately 3 million pairs of klompen per year, though most are sold as souvenirs rather than worn as everyday footwear. The clog is still worn by some farmers and gardeners, and the Dutch clog is recognized by the European Union as a traditional product of the Netherlands. The town of Noordijk in Gelderland is the center of clog production, and the clog museum (Klompenmuseum) displays over 2,000 pairs from every era and region. Wooden clogs are also used in the traditional clog dance, where dancers strike the floor with their klompen to create a rhythmic beat.