Van Arendonk BE

The Van Arendonk family has been involved in the shoe trade for hundreds of years. In 1884, after the death of his father, Jan van Arendonk found himself at the head of “a very modest shoemaker's shop”. He had a “rarely powerful, energetic will and restless work ethic”. “With unyielding diligence he set to work” and in a few years the sturdy worker “had the pleasure of turning the modest workshop into a large factory”, where, under his personal supervision, approximately 150 workers were employed. Under his capable leadership, production was steadily increased and in 1905 the factory was already delivering 2700 shoes per week.