Van Lier Shoes, iconic Dutch shoemaker founded in 1815, has declared bankruptcy for its subsidiaries Van Lier b.v., Van Lier Amsterdam, and Van Lier Shoes b.v. The historic brand, famous for premium leather men’s shoes, faced corona debts, declining sales, and failed investor talks. Zeeland-West-Brabant District Court confirmed closures, sparking uncertainty over the company’s future and possible restart.
Even as a dyeing newsreader, I was quite shocked when I started up my internet browser this morning, and was overwhelmed by news reports about these bankruptcies. Van Lier Shoes, founded in 1815, is a centuries-old world-famous Dutch shoe brand on the verge of bankruptcy. All major news media report it on their front page. Van Lier, together with Floris Van Bommel, two real artisanal shoemaking companies that made the Netherlands famous far abroad, bankrupt; is that really incomprehensible?
Bankruptcy of subsidiaries officially pronounced by Zeeland-West-Brabant District Court
At the moment (9:45 AM), it is known that the bankruptcy of subsidiaries Van Lier b.v., Van Lier Amsterdam and Van Lier Shoes b.v. (The company that operated the brand stores, Baylands Retail B.V., already went bankrupt in May). Since then, Van Lier’s stores have been closed. has been pronounced. “Further information about this will only follow after consultation with the trustee of these companies,” reports the parent company and the Zeeland-West-Brabant District Court. Earlier, Van Lier closed its own stores and struggled to repay the company’s outstanding coronavirus debts. Preliminary annual figures showed that the company, which has been producing shoes since the early nineteenth century, 2024 suffered a loss of almost 1 million euros. Turnover was also disappointing in the first three months of 2025. It fell by 2 million to almost 13 million euros.
Millions of euros in losses for Van Lier due to coronavirus debts and declining turnover
The shoe brand has tried to find a solution in talks with the tax authorities. The company was also looking for a buyer or investor, but that didn’t work out either. Van Lier’s shoes were still available until Wednesday through other points of sale and its own web shop. The web shop has now also been taken offline. Those who tried to reach the site of Van Lier shoes on Wednesday morning, August thirteen, 2025, were shown a white computer screen, with the text “service temporarily Unavailable.” The traditional Dutch company focused mainly on the segment of “neat men’s shoes.”
Breda’s rich leather and shoe industry and the rise of Van Lier since 1815
Around 1815, the “Loon op Zand” region had a lively leather and shoe industry. Van Lier therefore became big in the sale of leather shoes. More than two years ago, the then only 26-year-old Christina van Spaendonck started as general manager at Van Lier. She provided the necessary innovation, including by introducing AI. “I have to show that I have ambition and many growth plans, but I don’t know everything,” she said ten months after her appointment to Het Algemeen Dagblad, one of the largest newspapers in the Netherlands. To realize the plans, Van Lier tried to raise about 5 million euros in growth capital in the summer of 2023 by selling shares. However, investment experts were critical of the sky-high valuation in the media. At the issue price of the shares, the entire company would be worth 28 million euros. For example, stock market analyst Corné van Zeijl pointed out in De Telegraaf that the ‘mini-company’ had made less than three hundred thousand euros in profit in the previous year.
Stock market analysts critical of growth plans and valuation Van Lier Shoes
“So the company would be worth almost a hundred times the profit. In other words, they are even more expensive than the super share Nvidia,” the investment analyst sneered. “I like to get into Van Lier shoes, but not into the share.” Geert said in early 2024 in the business magazine “Quote ” that the critical Van Zeijl had clearly not read Van Lier’s investment proposal properly. In it, Van Lier predicted that profits would rise to 850,000 euros in the 2023-2024 financial year. And in the three years that followed, it would grow to 4 million euros. “In two years’ time, he will be able to do his math again,” the founder retorted scornfully. It is not yet clear what Van Lier will do, or can still do, after the bankruptcy of the subsidiaries
Owner Van Lier hints at restart despite bankruptcy of subsidiaries
Owner Geert van Spaendonck told the largest newspaper in the Netherlands “De Telegraaf” in September 2024 that a company with such an illustrious history as Van Lier would not just go under. I am sure she Van Spaendonck: “that we will continue to grow.” After all, this company also survived the First and Second World Wars.”
Van Spaendonck may be aiming for a new future for the brand.
The financial holding company that hangs over all his companies, VANLIER B.V., has not been declared bankrupt. “Mr. Van Spaendonck recently renewed his shareholding […] in VANLIER B.V. to Fairmont Capital B.V., established in Amsterdam”, this can be read in a message that Van Lier has shared with stock exchange site Bondex.io. In all the commotion, is there a huge strategic stunt by the owner?
