Eperon d'Or

Eperon d'Or is a museum dedicated to the shoe and brush-making industries in Izegem, a town in West Flanders that was once one of Belgium's most important centers of footwear production. The museum occupies a former shoe factory of the same name, built in the Art Deco style — the fully restored complex opened to visitors in June 2017, pairing a museum function with the preservation of the region's industrial heritage.

Where does the name Eperon d'Or come from?

The Eperon d'Or shoe company was founded in 1863 by Emiel Vandommele. The name, French for "golden spur," reflected his passion for horses and horsemanship. Over the following decades the brand grew into one of the local firms that turned Izegem into a significant hub of the leather and footwear industry in the region.

What was the factory's golden era like?

The company's peak came during the interwar period. For more than a decade, "Eperon d'Or" earned international recognition for the luxury design and craftsmanship of its shoes, with products reaching markets well beyond Belgium and the brand building a reputation in the elegant footwear segment. After the Second World War, growing competition from cheaper producers in Italy and Eastern Europe gradually eroded the factory's position. In 1967 the company declared bankruptcy, closing more than a century of operations.

What can visitors see in the museum today?

The collection includes around 4,000 pairs of historical shoes, ranging from everyday work models to elegant pieces showcasing the craftsmanship of past shoemakers. Highlights include boots attributed to King William I, alongside items tied directly to the production of the Eperon d'Or line. A separate section of the exhibition is devoted to the regional tradition of brush manufacturing, an industry that developed in Flanders alongside footwear production and formed an important part of the local economy.

Can visitors see the old production process in action?

One of the main attractions is a reconstructed 1950s shoe production line, illustrating step by step how a shoe was made on a factory floor of that era — from cutting the leather, through stitching the uppers, to attaching the sole. The site also preserves a historic steam engine that once powered the factory's machinery, a tangible trace of how industrial production in Izegem was mechanized around the turn of the 20th century.

Why is it worth a visit?

Eperon d'Or is more than a shoe exhibition — it tells the story of a local economy's transformation, from artisanal workshops through industrial prosperity to the pressures of a globalizing market that ultimately led to the factory's closure. The building itself, restored with respect for its original Art Deco architecture, stands as an example of successfully repurposing post-industrial heritage for cultural use. For anyone interested in the history of craftsmanship, industrial design, or the story of West Flanders, it offers a shoe collection of a scale rarely seen elsewhere, along with a genuine glimpse into the daily life of a historic factory.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Eperon d'Or museum located? In Izegem, in the West Flanders province of Belgium, inside a former shoe factory of the same name.

When did the museum open to the public? The restored complex opened its doors to visitors in June 2017.

What else can visitors see besides shoes? An exhibit on the tradition of brush-making in Flanders, a reconstructed 1950s production line, and a historic steam engine.

Why did the Eperon d'Or factory disappear? Rising competition from cheaper production in Italy and Eastern Europe led the company to declare bankruptcy in 1967.