Our history

In the mid-1950s, there were hardly any shoes available for people with difficult or sensitive feet — a problem that many children and adults simply had to accept. Willem Struijs decided to change that. On a rainy day in February 1957, he founded Piedro®, right in the heart of Rotterdam. 

With limited resources but a clear vision, he made the impossible possible. Just a few months later, Piedro® introduced the world’s very first children’s shoes with removable, supportive footbeds.

Things moved quickly: within two years, three different width fittings were available — and by 1969, that number had grown to seven. In 1978, Struijs established a foundation in Congo to help children affected by polio. Twice, he was honoured for the exceptional fit of his shoes.

What started small grew into an international success — and you can see that heritage in every step.