1896 - the start of Nijdam ice skates
In 1896, Hotse Nijdam began working as a self-employed carpenter in IJlst (Friesland), producing wooden skate parts for Jan Jarig Nooitgedagt. At the time, it was common for carpenters and blacksmiths to make skates as a supplementary source of income. In 1918, Hotse moved to Akkrum (Friesland), where he found suitable premises for his carpentry business. Alongside his carpentry work, Nijdam continued to manufacture skates. Over time, this activity became so time-consuming that he no longer referred to himself as a carpenter, but as a skate manufacturer.
Photo: Friesian ice skates, made by Hotse Nijdam
Photo: ice skate label from Jan Nijdam
1934
Jan, the third son of Hotse Nijdam, is the first to start his own business. In 1925, Jan also moved to Akkrum. He registered as a clog maker, but from the very beginning he was already engaged in making wooden skate parts. In 1934, he therefore founded his own skate factory. As a result, Akkrum now had two Nijdam skate workshops: one run by father Hotse and one by his son Jan.
Photo: Gerrit's Nijdam factory around 1938
1935
Hotse’s eldest son, Gerrit, is the second son to establish his own business. In 1935, Gerrit succeeded in setting up his own skate factory/workshop in Oranjewoud. In the early years, when severe winters created enormous demand for his skates, Gerrit and his daughter would skate to the supplier and return with bundles of skate blades carried on their backs.
Photo: Mr. Nijdam straightening skates.
1940
Around 1940, more than thirty people were employed at Gerrit’s factory, and sometimes over a thousand pairs of skates were produced per day. Gerrit Nijdam advertised them as ‘Friesland’s finest and lightest skate.’
1940-1945
During the Second World War, the Germans attempted to requisition the factory because metal was being processed there. Nijdam, however, managed to prevent the requisition by placing an advertisement in Dutch daily newspapers offering to repair wooden clogs. Broken clogs were sent in from all parts of the country.
When the Rüstungs-inspektion from The Hague came to carry out an inspection, they found 8,000 broken clogs being repaired by the workforce. The Germans could raise no objections to that.
After the war, skate manufacturing was resumed.
Photo: When the ‘Rüstungs-inspektion’ from The Hague came to carry out an inspection, they found 8,000 broken clogs.
Photo: Sticker Nijdam Heerenveen
1950s
In the 1950s, a fierce legal battle erupted over the use of the Nijdam brand name. Both Jan and Gerrit claimed exclusive rights to the name. Ultimately, Gerrit prevailed and was officially allowed to use the Nijdam brand; Jan continued his production under the name N.S.A. (Nijdam Schaatsen Akkrum). The fraternal relationship deteriorated severely, and distrust grew so deep that Jan’s employees even monitored where the skate shipments sent by Gerrit were being delivered.
The opening of national highway 32 in 1956 divided Oranjewoud in two. As a result, the area containing Nijdam’s factory became part of the city Heerenveen.
Photo: assembling figure skates
1950s-1960s
Leatherwork was outsourced to Th. Zandstra in Sneek, while Gerrit Krikke and Bart Sytsma worked as blacksmiths, and Andries de Vries produced many wooden components in the 1950s.
The company, then known as a ‘skate and wooden goods factory,’ used steel and beechwood sourced from Germany.
During this period, Coosje Nijdam and her husband Koos Woortman took over the company’s management. Nijdam also marketed metal skates under the names ‘Kondor’ and ‘DIPLOMA,’ and expanded its range to include high-cut Norwegian speed skates and figure skates.
Photo: Nijdam Racer
1996
After 1968, skates were no longer manufactured. The focus shifted to the trade in skates and other winter sports equipment. For example, Nijdam sold a traditional high-cut speed skate under the name ‘Nijdam Racer.’
1996
Joining Schreuders Sport International.
The Nijdam brand became part of Schreuders Sport International. This collaboration ensured the legacy, history, and brand values of Nijdam would continue to evolve and inspire motion worldwide, leveraging a larger distribution network while preserving the core expertise.
The expertise continues to roll.
Today, the Nijdam brand is dedicated to supplying the recreational market with durable and safe gear. Our technical knowledge, rooted in 1896, ensures that whether you're on inline skates, roller skates, or a stunt scooter, every product offers a reliable experience for the next generation of riders.