Shoes of Orange

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the oldest reigning Dutch monarch, will after 33 years on the throne following her mother’s abdication in 1980, relinquish the crown and leave the monarchy to Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander, her oldest of three sons on April 30th.


The ascent to the throne of Willem-Alexander means the Netherlands will have its first king in more than a century. Abdication is also in the tradition of the Dutch monarchy. Beatrix’s mother, Queen Juliana abdicated in 1980, her mother, Queen Wilhelmina, in 1948. The wife of Prince Willem-Alexander, Princess Maxima Zorreguieta will be the first Argentinian to become a queen.

Shoe and fashion designers have been inspired by the Queen and the Dutch national colors red-white-blue with orange for years. Shoe brands like Lola Pagola made a collection of Dutch shoes inspired by traditional symbols and souvenirs in 1998, including a Souvenir queen shoe.

And Marielou Buitenhuis-Koppens designed the ultimate Queensday shoe called Double Dutch she shoe that changes with you. The Switchit can create endless variations of the different models, colors and ribbons in the colors of your country flag.

Princess Maxima already gave Dutch fashion designer Jan Taminiau international recognition wearing his ‘mail bag’ jacked and his stunning evening dresses. According to modekoninginmaxima her chose of shoes is on the safe side, so we hope she will get inspired.

More Orange shoes at the Virtual Shoe Museum.