Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Slovenia mushroom foraging
Slovenia • 6 days, 5 nights
Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Mycenaean Cemetery of Voudeni
Marcos de Niza Monument.
Marcos de Niza Monument
Statue of the Buddha in the main temple
Gadaladeniya Viharaya
McClellan Falls
McClellan Falls
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Caru' cu Bere
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Inside the Rothko Chapel
These Monuments Showcase the Beauty of Brutalism
2 days ago
Aerial view of Pulau Tiga
The Original ‘Survivor’ Island Changed Television Forever
3 days ago
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Roaming among Assateague's feral island ponies
3 days ago
The main reading room of the Athenaeum.
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Literary Landmarks Across Providence
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Netherlands Alkmaar J. Boom

J. Boom

A museum-like shop that has been producing clogs, brushes, and ropes for nearly 200 years.

Alkmaar, Netherlands

Added By
J Boom
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Shop Window Today   J Boom / Atlas Obscura User
Shop Window Today   J Boom / Atlas Obscura User
Rows of Traditional Clogs   J Boom / Atlas Obscura User
Classic Cash Register   J Boom / Atlas Obscura User
Shop Window - Then & Now   J Boom / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Since 1835, the Boom family has been the specialist for Dutch household items from traditional wooden clogs to ropes, brushes, and household products.

Over its nearly 200-year history, the shop has served the people of Alkmaar. The interior has retained much of its original character and charm. Hundreds of brushes hang from the ceiling, and the shelves are filled with rows of traditional clogs. The shop window and the classic cash register remain the same.

In addition to clogs, brushes, and ropes, the store carries a number of traditional cleaning products, including pipe and radiator cleaners, teapot spouts, chimney sweeps, feather dusters, and carpet beaters. The rope and twine collection include sustainably sourced natural fibers, for example hemp, manila, sisal and cotton. Thousands of products are stacked up to the ceiling.

In 1982, the future of the store was uncertain after the owner, Johan Boom died unexpectedly. His daughter-in-law Bernadette took over the business and still runs it today. After a large fire devastated the shop in 2012, she led the rebuilding process, restoring the shop to its traditional design.

Related Tags

Stores Shops Shoes

Know Before You Go

The shop is open every day except for Sunday. Check the website for hours.

Community Contributors

Added By

J Boom

Published

May 28, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.ouderwetsewinkel.com/about-us
J. Boom
3A Huigbrouwerstraat
Alkmaar, 1811 BJ
Netherlands
52.630003, 4.74932
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

De Kwal (The Jellyfish)

Castricum, Netherlands

miles away

Kremlin of the Netherlands

Winkel, Netherlands

miles away

Verfmolen De Kat

Zaandam, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Netherlands

Netherlands

Europe

Places 364
Stories 21

Nearby Places

De Kwal (The Jellyfish)

Castricum, Netherlands

miles away

Kremlin of the Netherlands

Winkel, Netherlands

miles away

Verfmolen De Kat

Zaandam, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Netherlands

Netherlands

Europe

Places 364
Stories 21

Related Places

  • Peter Scott’s Shoes.

    Woodhall Spa, England

    Peter Scott's Shoes

    This tiny shoe shop claims to be the smallest store of its kind in Britain.

  • The many heads of social justice.

    Alexandria, Egypt

    Tamr Hena Museum

    Part shoe store, part sociopolitical art gallery, part zoo.

  • Görlitz, Germany

    Jugendstilkaufhaus Görlitz

    After falling into disuse, this imposing department store found new life as a Hollywood backdrop and a theater.

  • Berdine’s Five and Dime opened in 1908 in downtown Harrisville, West Virginia.

    Harrisville, West Virginia

    Berdine's Five and Dime

    Step back in time at this historic variety store, packed with items from a bygone era.

  • The entrance to Afflecks.

    Manchester, England

    Afflecks

    Over 70 independent businesses have set up shop in this former Victorian department store.

  • Glass eyes

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Anastacia's Antiques

    For more than 25 years, this Philadelphia store has been offering a wide selection of Victorian oddities and antiques.

  • Ritualcravt- Colorado’s Hub for Witchcraft

    Wheat Ridge, Colorado

    Ritualcravt

    A Colorado store that specializes in all things spiritual, metaphysical, and witchy.

  • Barcelona, Spain

    Madame Chocolat Store

    This store decorated with Japanese and underground pop culture items has been the centre of Barcelona alternative fashion scenes for more than a decade.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.