In conversation with Remon Van Lent of Schoenmakerij Oost
Remon Van Lent is the owner and cobbler of Schoenmakerij Oost in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He is the 6th generation in a family of shoemakers; each generation inheriting the skills from the generation above. We visited his tidy and bright workshop on a sunny day in July 2025. He shared with us his experience as a long-time dedicated cobbler experiencing the rapidly changing footwear scene.
Getting to know Remon
FCL | How long have you been in the business?
Oost | Since I was sixteen. I'm fifty now. And this store has been around for ten years. Before that, I always worked downtown. I have plenty of experience. I learned shoemaking from my father and brother.
Oost | Since I was sixteen. I'm fifty now. And this store has been around for ten years. Before that, I always worked downtown. I have plenty of experience. I learned shoemaking from my father and brother.
FCL | What is your driving force? Craftsmanship, sustainability, love for shoes, or something else?
Oost | Everything. You really have to love shoes. It's wonderful when you've repaired shoes, and the customer is happy. It's also important that the cash register rings.
Oost | Everything. You really have to love shoes. It's wonderful when you've repaired shoes, and the customer is happy. It's also important that the cash register rings.
The changing footwear scene
FCL | What has changed in past years for you and your business as a shoemaker/repairer?
Oost | I have to say, sustainability plays a role (in the cash register ringing). It helps us a lot. We've all had a difficult time. The banking crisis, COVID-19... none of that helped. The increase in support and interest for sustainability definitely helps us. COVID-19 made the sneaker really take off. People started dressing casually. Dressing casually was accepted at work, you know. I had a lot of customers who wore formal leather shoes with a suit. That disappeared at one point. But, I see it (formal leather shoes) slowly coming back.
And, of course, the internet. On Instagram, I occasionally see styles I've never heard of before. And sometimes people know more about a certain style than I do. So, I now also search the internet, scouring and following people. To keep up. In the past, fashion was one thing, but nowadays it can be so many things.
If you visit all the shoemakers, you'll hear the same thing everywhere. In the past, shoemakers turned their noses up at sneakers. They thought they weren't worth the effort. Nowadays, sneakers are so expensive. Look in my closet, (all the sneakers are) completely cleaned. I do my best to clean them thoroughly. Also, everything that can break in a sneaker can be repaired. Sneakers might account for a quarter of the turnover. For me, it's just part of my job. I'm not specialized in it (sneakers) or anything. Not at all. But look, sneakers are here to stay. It used to be a fad. And now it's just... It's just here to stay.
Oost | I have to say, sustainability plays a role (in the cash register ringing). It helps us a lot. We've all had a difficult time. The banking crisis, COVID-19... none of that helped. The increase in support and interest for sustainability definitely helps us. COVID-19 made the sneaker really take off. People started dressing casually. Dressing casually was accepted at work, you know. I had a lot of customers who wore formal leather shoes with a suit. That disappeared at one point. But, I see it (formal leather shoes) slowly coming back.
And, of course, the internet. On Instagram, I occasionally see styles I've never heard of before. And sometimes people know more about a certain style than I do. So, I now also search the internet, scouring and following people. To keep up. In the past, fashion was one thing, but nowadays it can be so many things.
If you visit all the shoemakers, you'll hear the same thing everywhere. In the past, shoemakers turned their noses up at sneakers. They thought they weren't worth the effort. Nowadays, sneakers are so expensive. Look in my closet, (all the sneakers are) completely cleaned. I do my best to clean them thoroughly. Also, everything that can break in a sneaker can be repaired. Sneakers might account for a quarter of the turnover. For me, it's just part of my job. I'm not specialized in it (sneakers) or anything. Not at all. But look, sneakers are here to stay. It used to be a fad. And now it's just... It's just here to stay.
New generations, new skills.
FCL | What skills does a traditional shoemaker need to learn to be able to repair sneakers?
Oost | Well, it's mainly about not being stubborn and clinging to old traditions, and just going with the times. Sneakers are made differently from traditional shoes. So, I’ve created my own tools to repair sneakers. For example, I created a mold to cut a new lining for sneakers with broken inner heel linings. Of course, it depends on the sneaker, and I adjust accordingly. You have to move with the times. I think that's the most important thing.
FCL | You mentioned you inherited your skills from your father. Did you learn sneaker repair from him as well?
Oost | Yes, my father and brother trained me, but not for sneakers. I learned all of this myself. I learned a lot from the internet as well. There are many shoemakers online, in particularly American shoemakers. They show what they do to repair sneakers; mostly about the aesthetics, the finishing touches. I learned a lot from that, too. I think we (in the Netherlands) need to work hard to keep up. Because people know (from online information) what the possibilities are (for sneaker repair).
Oost | Well, it's mainly about not being stubborn and clinging to old traditions, and just going with the times. Sneakers are made differently from traditional shoes. So, I’ve created my own tools to repair sneakers. For example, I created a mold to cut a new lining for sneakers with broken inner heel linings. Of course, it depends on the sneaker, and I adjust accordingly. You have to move with the times. I think that's the most important thing.
FCL | You mentioned you inherited your skills from your father. Did you learn sneaker repair from him as well?
Oost | Yes, my father and brother trained me, but not for sneakers. I learned all of this myself. I learned a lot from the internet as well. There are many shoemakers online, in particularly American shoemakers. They show what they do to repair sneakers; mostly about the aesthetics, the finishing touches. I learned a lot from that, too. I think we (in the Netherlands) need to work hard to keep up. Because people know (from online information) what the possibilities are (for sneaker repair).
FCL | Competition seems to have become fierce because of the internet. Because people can see all the possibilities at once, the expectations become much higher.
Oost | Yes. But still, a lot of young people don't know (the possibilities of repair). They come and ask, Can I fix my worn-out nose? Of course, it can be fixed. The older generation used to go to the shoemaker, and so they learned how to maintain their shoes.
FCL | If a young person wants to become a shoemaker, where do you think they should start?
Oost | The best thing to do is just walk into a shop and ask. And follow the training there. And if you want, you can also follow the one-day-a-week training course, during which you will still need an internship. There are plenty of internships, with lots of shoemakers.
Oost | Yes. But still, a lot of young people don't know (the possibilities of repair). They come and ask, Can I fix my worn-out nose? Of course, it can be fixed. The older generation used to go to the shoemaker, and so they learned how to maintain their shoes.
FCL | If a young person wants to become a shoemaker, where do you think they should start?
Oost | The best thing to do is just walk into a shop and ask. And follow the training there. And if you want, you can also follow the one-day-a-week training course, during which you will still need an internship. There are plenty of internships, with lots of shoemakers.