center of leather
four benches with their own story
Waalwijk has a rich shoe and leather history. Four benches in the city center have therefore been given a new look. Each bench is decorated with a piece of leather in which quotes in dialect are engraved. Designers Juul Dijkmeijer and Amy Vorsselmans took on this project together with various parties from Waalwijk.
To give each bank its own story, they went in search of typical quotes, sayings and fun facts that have something to do with the city's history. To do this, they contacted the people of Waalwijk themselves through various platforms. The quotes were translated by the Stichting Langstraats in Woord en Beeld and the final production was done by Alphenberg Leather. It has become a design by and for the people of Waalwijk.
This project was created in cooperation with the Municipality of Waalwijk.
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't Rùkt hier nòr glue en lèèr.
It smells like glue and leather here.
Explanation: The city used to smell like glue and leather because of all the industry. The smell is typical of the leather industry.
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Shoemaker, stick to oewe leêst!
Shoemaker, stick to your last!
Explanation: This is said to someone who passes judgment on something of which he has no understanding.
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Pull the bold shoes aon and gò sit down.
Put on the bold shoes and sit down.
Explanation: Saying or doing something for which one has had to muster courage.
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Gôi gin aauw schoén away vurdè ge new it.
Don't throw away old shoes before you have new ones.
Explanation: One should not sacrifice a secure existence to an enterprise, the outcome of which is still uncertain.