Wearing shoes in the house in the Netherlands: it’s a thing. For those of us who come from different cultures, it’s a strange thing — but where does this custom come from?
I’ve already written about other interesting Dutch habits and have since bought a house in the Netherlands. That’s when a discussion came up when talking about visitors: will we have an Austrian household or a Dutch one?
Most importantly, how do we make Dutch guests understand my strange, urgent need that they have to take off their shoes in the hallway?
Cultural differences: Austria
Every time I enter a house, I take off my shoes immediately at the front door. I never considered that other people don’t do that or questioned why I do it. It’s in my system and has been a habit for as long as I remember.
My mom was especially nitpicky about it since we always had wooden floors, and she never liked dirty shoeprints on the floor.
That’s why my brother and I always took our shoes off so as not to drag any dirt or snow inside the house. We didn’t want to make our mom mad… or clean the floor afterwards. 🫢
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So, when coming to the Netherlands and visiting Dutch households, I always automatically took off my shoes — that is until my boyfriend told me that it is not common here.
At first, I was a bit confused. But it was summer, the weather was warm, and I wore sandals
— so I just listened.
Looking around, I noticed that nobody else was walking in socks or barefoot either. People even wore high heels in the living room and walked on tiny stilettos, pinching holes in the wooden floor. 👠
So, why do Dutch people wear shoes in the house?
Afterwards, I couldn’t help but initiate a conversation about it with my boyfriend, who explained this Dutch phenomenon.
When I started to work here, I noticed that all the students ran around in their shoes too.
In Austria, that would never happen. From kindergarten on, every kid wears slippers. You come to school, take off your shoes, and walk in slippers all day long.
Our teachers and parents always told us that it would be healthier for our feet, and the cleaning personnel were especially happy because we dragged less dirt inside. Only the teachers were allowed to wear their normal shoes.
Once I became a teacher myself, I was a little bit proud to have that privilege. But seeing Dutch students coming to school completely soaked from cycling through the rain and then walking around on a carpeted floor at school left me quite surprised.
A quick search on Google
So pretty obviously, we have a cultural difference here. I was so completely taken by the subject that I googled it.
“In Northern Europe and Austria, it is considered rude and unhygienic to wear shoes in the house.” I like how Austria even got its special position in this sentence.
Then I found out that “in the Netherlands, people don’t usually wear shoes in the house.” That means that it is not usual but still common, especially for visitors.
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I grew older, I grew wiser, and, to be honest, I inherited many characteristics of my mom. I know that I don’t want to have people walk around in my house in shoes.
I love walking around in socks, and I simply have this “no-shoe attitude” deeply anchored in my Austrian heart.
So when it comes to having our own house in the Netherlands, I am probably a pretty annoying host. My boyfriend at least stands behind my rule, but I guess his main reason is “happy wife, happy life.” 😆
What is your opinion on wearing shoes in the house? Tell us in the comments below!
My Dutch husband learned me to take off my shoes at the entrance door, old farmers habits. I was used to thick square clothes unders my shoes when wolking in my parents house. Hier I have a bord on my front door “shoes off”. if people does not respect my house, may stay outside. bye
In parts of India too we wear slippers inside the house and leave the shoes or sandals outside. For hygiene reasons (dust) plus being a tropical country it is hot so flip flops are more.comfy at home.
At our house ‘schoenen uit’ was a rule. Strangers and friends who had ‘zweetvoeten’ were asked to clean their shoes well before entering. Don’t know of any other house that had this rule so it’s not a Dutch thing but maybe it should be. In schools too. It doesn’t only keep the house clean but also protects the floors and it’s just much more comfortable.
One of the pros of being an Asian in the Netherlands is that people automatically take off their shoes before walking in my room without any questions asked. All they need is seeing me taking off my shoes and they be like “Idk I’ll just follow what the Asian do” ?
I so wish I could get my Dutch partner to take his shoes off in the house! Not only would it keep my floors cleaner, I wouldn’t trip over the shoes he leaves in the living room! Perhaps I need to make a “schoenen uit alsjeblieft” sign..
We never took our shoes off in the Netherlands where I grew up, and I still do not ask friends to take off their shoes, When I invite friends and they come nice dressed I think you can not expect that they take off their nice shoes what are chosen to go with the outfit. I live now in Germany and lived before over 25 years in the USA.
In my household this is normal.
I think it is an actual cultural thing, that is, interestinly, not universal but still present.
🙂 That’s kind of cool ^^
I’m sorry I forgot to add, I’m Dutch.
I don’t like people taking their shoes off in my house, what if they have smelly feet? I can’t ask them to put their shoes back on. Awkward!
I’d rather clean the floor after then think about all the nasty possibilities of those feet being dirty
I’m Asian so we always take off our shoes before even entering the door, when I came to The Netherlands, my in-laws are doing the same. So, I am happy I did not had any shock with this thing. Hihi
Exactly! Why would you allow germs in your house by wearing the very same shoes you use to walk on the streets inside?
In Indonesia we always take off our shoes or sandals before entering a house for such reason. When I studied in the Netherlands, I was also quite surprised when my boyfriend invited me to his parents house, everybody was just walking around with their shoes on. Funny enough, I felt uncomfortable following the rules so I took off mine and walked around barefeet (I didn’t have socks on back then) and my boyfriend looked so concerned asking me whether my feet turned cold due to the cold floor. I think Dutch people don’t like it at all to have cold feet 🙂
But yea when my boyfriend came to visit me at my place, I always asked him nicely to take off his shoes, he never complained and followed it volunteerily 🙂
Dutch born and raised,of surinamese descent. Shoes are for outside in our culture. Wherever I go, inside people’s houses i take them off (even when they tell me its ok to wear them) and feel deeply uncomfortable not doing so.
As a Finn I have noticed the same thing in The Netherlands. Most people here seem to keep their shoes on in the house. Seems so unhygienic to me! In my house it’s shoes off or stay in the hallway!
I’m originally from Russia and we don’t wear shoes inside.My husband is Dutch but we both are from yoga community and most of our fiends are “no shoes indoors” people.We have small children AND nice carpets,so if you are petulant man-child who can’t deal respectfully with simple request,you are definitely not invited.
How you manage the cold floor? Your feet will be cold.
I think there’s a thing called slippers.
BS story….
Short sighted as well.
I know a lot of Dutch friends who have the ‘shoes-off- rules in their homes. I take of my shoes in the house but not just for hygene reasons, for comfort. Idon’t really care if ppl wear there shoes in my house, I vacuum clean my house everyday and mob every other day.
Check this old-school add from UNOX, this is a short version, but in the end you see all the guys with their shoes off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iESf6RKSb8
This makes me very unhappy. As being handicapt I have to wear special shoes. If people ask me to take them off I could not walk. So I leave. It always surprises how people do not understand.
At young age we came to US and always removed shoes my friends found it a strange request
I too have walking problems without shoes since 1975 so I understand
I am from Finland and lived 6 years with my husband in Holland. I fully agree with everything with you :). We have had the same discussion many times.
Dutch floors and cold though, they hardly never have floor heating. But still, I prefer clean floor and socks inside!
I am Dutch but I had the same rule, my grandparents were dirt farmers and always took off their shoes, my mother (their daughter) didn’t do it when I was a kid, but later, living alone, I liked the custom and made a rule, now I live in South Korea, and here it’s a custom anywhere, I like it, the floor is heated so the feet are always warm and comfortable,
So I am from Canada and people take off their shoes before entering the house there. Some houses even have a “mud room” – a coat room that is between the front door and the rest of the house to take off and store your outerwear and footwear as you enter. My theory is that in countries or places where there is a snowy winter where you can track mud and snow into the house, it becomes logical to take the shoes off and people do that automatically. So perhaps there is also a practical side to this difference.
I remember visiting a colleague in Hungary where I had to take my shoes of as a guest. This was strange to me.
I step in to our house with shoes on, but once sitting on the couch I take off shoes and socks to enjoy the warm floor heating and so do we all in our family.
I must admit though that the shoes laying around the couch with socks in it do annoy me. So I think your style makes quite some sense…
The Dutch give the shoes to their baby since they are borned i suppose. I always see the baby or child in the buggy wear the shoes likes they can already walk .When I go to the Dutch family,they wear very formal shoes likes they are planning to go somewhere but actually they just stay at home.When I see the children wear the closed shoes at home,I just wonder they also wear the shoes to bed ..
I’m english living in the netherlands and visibly seethe when people walk in without removing their shoes
I just don’t get what the fuss is about with shoes. It is not the 1700’s where we all walked around in mud and horse dung all day. If it isn’t raining there is nothing under my shoes to make your house dirty. So why be so strict about having no shoes in your home? You give your guests something to drink and they make your glasswear dirty but the extra work to clean the dishes is just something you accept. You invite people over so you clean their crap. Would be pretty rude to ask them to wash their own dishes or bring their own glassware. It is a small effort and is part of being a host.
And that is how I feel about shoes. You invite them over, if shoes leave any dirt which I doubt you can clean it with 5 mins of vacuuming. Small effort that makes the people you invited feel a lot better.
I also find it a bit rude if a host is so concerned about every little bit of crap their guests make in their house. To me hanging out has to have a bit of freedom, you are there with friends or fa.ily to have some fun. If that means somebody knocks over a drink by accident or leaves empty cans laying around big deal, just takes 10 mins to clean the next day. To me that is a lot more fun than constantly walking on eggshells because god forbid a dust partical leaves the sole of your shoe and “ruins” the floor.
Ah yes the “I am your guest, therefore I am sacred and get to do to your house as I please”. You are invited over to someone’s place, this means you should respect their rules. Not the other way around. There’s a lot of germs on the soles of shoes, streets aren’t that clean, especially not in NL (comparing to streets in Japan for example). I’m not having that argument with anyone. If you’re not willing to take off your shoes you can leave. Simple as that. And personally I prefer taking off my shoes when visiting people too. It’s a sign that you trust them to have clean floors, and to me people keeping on their shoes always gives off a vibe of not wanting to stay for too long. I feel more comfortable and at home walking around without shoes. And I have no problem helping people with the dishes, I am a guest yes but that doesn’t mean I should just sit on the couch and let myself be served like I’m in a restaurant.
In most of Latin American countries, people are wearing shoes in their houses all the time..it is totally normal! In Latin America it is actually considered very rude to ask your guest to take their shoes off. And no…it is not unhygienic at all! We actually clean our floors every day… I guess those “no shoes in my home” people are the lazy ones who don’t clean their floor very often, because they just assume no shoes= floor always clean.
I really hate to have to use others restroom without shoes. I also find very unhygienic to use “guest shoes” because you never know who else have used them before. Don’t forget there are a lot of yeast that can be transmitted by using footwear of an infected person.
Last but not least: it looks really distasteful when people are wearing nice clothes but standing on their socks or even on their naked feet.
I would enjoy being a guest Netherlands much better than in Austria.
There’s the typical Latin American arrogance I cannot stand… thinking that people who request removal of shoes in their homes are “the lazy ones” who don’t clean their floors. Also, do you think these people don’t wash the guest slippers after they are worn? You probably also think they don’t wash the sheets and duvets after guests stay overnight or longer.
Newsflash: Guests are *not* royalty. If Latin Americans are so offended by being asked to remove their precious shoes, then it’s just more typical arrogance. God forbid if Maria Conchita and Carmen Dolores can’t walk around in their overpriced stilletto heels to satisfy their own vanity, or to receive superficial compliments all evening. So “distasteful”. Better to have floors full of germs and pollutants from shoes than to upset arrogant Latin egos.
It’s gross! Thankfully, it seems to be changing: I now see more and more Dutch people taking off their shoes when they come in.However, they do still seem hesitant to ask guests to do the same…expect for my neighbor who has a sign in the front hall that says “Unless you are God, take off your shoes.”
I am from Northern Europe and my boyfriend is Dutch. Overall, we’re a no-shoes-inside household, but on his birthday he insisted (demanded) we don’t ask our guests take off their shoes. I was baffled. Back home we have guest slippers for people who’s feet get cold. I’m wearing slippers so why should I leave my guests without such luxury, and also it’s a good way to politely give a hint. Before the party, I was vacuuming the beautiful fluffy carpet only to have it trampled by damp boots. My heart broke a bit.
And for every Dutch person fearing their guests stinky feet: you should wash your feet and change socks every day AND make sure you’re wearing weather appropriate shoes that breathe!! Feet should not stink and if they do THEN YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG!
I live in the U.S.
I was raised in the Southwest (Arizona) in the 1960s, and in most households people would naturally take their shoes off when entering a house, as did our family. We would never consider wearing shoes indoors! It would have been considered dirty and rude: too much dirt & dust being brought in.
I have lived in the Pacific Northwest now since the 1970s, and I know of no households that wear shoes inside — we all kick our shoes off upon entering any home; very clean, respectful and natural. This is what children are taught to do, at least on the West Coast. Some preschools schools have this as a rule, but after age 4, schools have kids keep shoes on for the whole day.
I also lived in Alaska for a few years, and many people would wear their shoes (even muddy boots!) indoors. It makes for a lot of cleaning – however, the middle-class Alaskan culture I encountered is very casual when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness, and the families do not usually focus on upkeep; having a clean house is not important and dirt & mud is just a way of life up North, and seems to be the norm.
When friends from the East Coast visit me in Washington State, they are often surprised to be asked to remove their footwear.
I think removing shoes in the house is more of a West Coast thing. We have always done this.
I’m Dutch and never ask people to take off their shoes. They are however free to take them off if it makes them feel comfortable. But if they have smelly feet they will be told to put their shoes back on.
I am Dutch, living in Italy for already 50 years. I always took off my shoes, my husband too (he has worked in the Netherlands) and when I got people to visit me, I took care there were always some pair of slippers they could fihe same dirty shoes in my house??? Nope!!!!
My grandparents came from the Netherlands but my family in the U.S. never took their shoes off in the house, but whe. living in Chicago in the 60s-70s when they burned dirty coal for heating etc I started the habit of removing shoes when coming indoors, Also living in the heart of the city, the sidewalks with so much foot traffic,made the bottom of shoes very dirty! Now my daughters have the same tradition with their families . Shoes off in the house and my little grandchildren kick off their shoes upon entering the house!
I am Argentinian living in The Netherlands and also It isn’t common for me to take off my shoes when I’m in another house
Born in the Netherlands, my shoes is absolutely a NO shoe zone! Most friends and family do the same so no issues.
The only issue i occur is with e.g maintenance people who respond strangely when i ask them to take their shoes off. My house, my rules. Wondering how others deal with this?
Have exactly the same issues with maintenance people. They say they “are not allowed” to take their shoes off. The most respectful ones don’t make a problem of it and say sure. But it also led to many discussions.
Everytime I had maintenance people over the beautiful wooden floor was left with marks that I can’t rub off.
Dutch people have terrible hygiene. A visitor to my place whined about taking her shoes off and out of politeness I said up to you. She immediately walken in the house with her shoes muddy from walking through muddy grass nearby. By the time she left, my white floor had clear mud stains all over. She didn’t comment or apologize and waltzed out as if nothing happened. She was never invited again.
I have been living in The Netherlands for almost 5 years, after spending the first 20 years of my life in Eastern Europe. As most of the people commenting here, I was also very surprised when I noticed people do not take their shoes inside unless they want to lay on the couch or go to bed. Compared to the average household (of course, speaking from my own experience) in Romania, I feel that the Dutch focus much less on up-keeping and cleaning. What is striking to me is that although they have a great eye for design (lots of houses look as if they were straight out of Architectural Digest, inside and out), they don’t mind if there are spiders in their houses, a little mouse or some dead flies here and there on the floor.
Then I think I’d never enter your home 😉 I consider this is rude to make people taking off their shoes if they don’t want to. When I invite guests I want them to feel comfortable. There are preety smart cleanig devices now that can help to clean after my guests. I was raised that way up and not in NL. Imagine your guest has accidentally problem with hole in sock or sweating feet problem – it can put them in very unfortunate situation. Not nice!!!
I completely understand you. I got irritated to keep reminding same visitors to take off their shoes before entering my home here especially since I also have a 9 months old baby crawling at the moment. In Malaysia where I am from, it is unhygienic to wear outside shoes indoor. Full stop. Sometimes the visitors said they are not staying long that is why they just walked in straight with shoes but I don’t buy that excuse hahaha… Call me difficult but god knows where those shoes have stepped in on the way.
I started this in my apartment. Put a tray out for my shoes, and things worked well for me until, the cat peed on my shoes.
Take off shoes while in the house doesn’t mean we are lazy. But just consider we have baby who like to walking around the house. To keep our family safe from germ and healthy so better not let our floor dirty. Why not let you feet free and fresh, also we easy to do anything. Btw I’m Asian.
Extensive recent studies have proven that wearing outside footwear in the home is an unhygienic practice. For that reason alone, people should absolutely remove shoes when entering a home. It is so you don’t sick with all the nasty bacteria, viruses, fungi and chemicals you can track into your home or someone else’s home from the outside. I lived in Hawaii for 30 years and we all had signs saying “mahalo (thank you) for removing your shoes” posted at the entrance of our homes there. Living in US mainland now and still using the similar sign.
Funny how they mention only northern europe and austria but ignore whole balkan and eastern europe lol, no one wears shoes in the house in slovenia and I’m pretty sure that is the case in many other countries on balkan and eastern europe.
I am french and also grew up in a no-shoe house. I now have a house with my dutch partner and we take off our shoes and wear slippers but when her family comes over they keep their shoes on
In addition to wearing shoes indoors—even on the sofa—Dutch people never seem to clean them. Just take a look at the white sneakers they wear outside, and you’ll clearly see the hygiene issue. Now, imagine a baby crawling through all the bacteria left behind. Disgusting, isn’t it?
I am Dutch and I am quite suprised by how your boyfriend said it is normal. It depence on your social cercle. No one gets in my home with their shoes on, it’s really unhygenic. At primery school we had slippers so no shoes. This was in Amsterdam in the 90s. I concider it really rude if you keep your shoes on in someones house in general. I don’t think it’s a cultural difference.
I born and raised in Hong Kong and living in The Netherlands for 13yrs with my French husband and two beautiful daughters (6 & 9 yrs old).
I struggle so much each time when there is any Dutch visitor come in our house, as removing shoes is not in their radar at all. I mean I can deal with it if it’s a dry sunny day but on a rainy day, if they step in with a pair of wet soaking shoes 🤦🏼 At one point, I give up being polite but take care of my own feeling. Now I request them to remove their shoes once they step in at the hallway and even my kids are also used to it and they will ask their friends who come for a playdate to follow this house rule.
For my husband, he was the one wearing shoes in the house before but I educated him since we are living together and now he is also removing shoes automatically 🤭
As a Canadian we take our shoes off. You bust my house then it is my rules…. and if I come to yours and you have shoes on then fine I’ll follow your rules…
In all seriousness for me it is the studies in hygiene and also the cleaning…
Also as I write this I also know there are Dutch people that do not wear shoes in their house but generally it is known that they do. It’s the same with Americans, some wear their shoes in their homes and others do not. Generally more wear their shoes in the homes.
I am an American with kids/grands living in the Netherlands. My grandmother was German born and moved to the USA as a young girl. For most of my life I have worn shoes in the house. Then about a year ago to keep my house cleaner (and I hate cleaning) I started designating some shoes for indoors and some for leaving the house in. All my outside shoes are near the door I usually exit my house. Which means I need to plan time to change shoes when I am have a time deadline. I frequently get some “help” with shoelaces from adorable kitty girls. I don’t expect visitors to take off their shoes, I don’t complain if they do. I live alone so I don’t have to deal with someone who has other ideas. It is working for me.