The Netherlands was one of 11 neutral countries during the First World War. Nonetheless, the Dutch army was in a state of high alert during the war. To station the army as close as possible to the front line, soldiers were ‘billeted’. This meant that civilians had to accommodate soldiers in private homes and buildings along the Dutch border. Then-director Janus van Bommel was assigned two soldiers in his private home, for whom he had to provide board and lodging.

(Image below: Director Janus van Bommel poses with his family and two soldiers billeted with him in front of his house at 't Rootven in Moergestel in 1915.)

Part of the factory had to be made available for accommodation too. Production could continue in the remaining area. However, leather was scarce and therefore expensive. Exports dropped significantly and at some point, exports were banned altogether. Because of the high prices, the government intervened in 1917. The distribution of hides, leather and tanning agents was now strictly regulated. In 1918, the government introduced the ‘government shoe’. From then on, shoe manufacturers were obliged to partly produce a standard shoe from prescribed materials and by means of set manufacturing methods. The government determined the maximum price of this shoe.

In part, Van Bommel was temporarily forced to abandon the production of its traditional quality shoes. For the freely producible part, however, quality shoes could still be made. Thanks to the turnover from these shoes, the company's financial footing remained intact. During the war, excluding home workers, an average of 26 people worked in the shoe factory. By 1919, this number had reached 36.

(Image above: Shoemaker family Adrianus Wolfs-Jonkers with three soldiers that were billeted with him. The photo was taken around 1915 in front of the family's house at 't Rootven in Moergestel.)