Svenska skoindustrimuseet
Living shoe industry museum in Kumla, with exhibitions on the shoe industry and a preserved shoe factory where shoes are still made.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Shoe manufacturing was of great importance to Kumla and the whole of Närke. Over the years the municipality has had more than 130 shoe manufacturers, and at the end of the 1930s about half of the country’s shoe industry was in Örebro county. When imports were liberalised in 1955 and many factories closed, Kumla began to discuss how the memory of the era should be preserved.
A working group was formed in 1983, and in 1986 Svenska Skoindustrimuseet (the Swedish Shoe Industry Museum) opened. The museum is in a three-storey building. On the ground floor there are exhibitions on the development of the shoe industry and Swedish shoe fashion, while the shoe factory Bengtar-Sko is preserved on the floors above.
The factory was run in the building from 1959 and ceased commercial operation in 1987. Today it is a living part of the museum, where slippers, lace-up shoes and desert boots are still made by the museum’s own staff. The machinery park and the environment have their roots in the 1950s. The museum was named Årets arbetslivsmuseum (Working Life Museum of the Year) in 2017.
Highlights
- Preserved shoe factory with production still under way
- Basic exhibition on the history of the shoe industry
- Shoe fashion in Sweden from 1890 to 1980
- Shop with shoes made in the museum’s factory
- Guided tours that give an insight into production
Permanent exhibitions
- Basutställning om skoindustrin – The basic exhibition on the ground floor tells of the development of the shoe industry and Swedish shoe fashion from 1890 to 1980.
- Skofabriken Bengtar-Sko – The preserved factory from the 1950s on the second and third floors, where slippers, lace-up shoes and desert boots are still made.
- Founded
- 1986
Admission & discounts
| Adults | SEK 40 |
|---|---|
| Groups | SEK 60 per personGuided group: SEK 60 per person on weekdays and SEK 70 per person on evenings and weekends, minimum charge SEK 600 per group. |
| Guided tour on weekdays (per person, at least SEK 600 per group) | SEK 60 |
| Guided tour on evenings and weekends (per person, at least SEK 600 per group) | SEK 70 |
Free admission for care and nursing homes in Örebro county. School classes receive free guided tours after advance booking.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Children can follow how shoes are made in the factory. Special activities for children are arranged during school holidays, and a free app from Svenskt kulturarv (Swedish Cultural Heritage) can be downloaded.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum shop sells shoes that are made in the museum’s factory.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours must be booked in advance. A guided tour takes about 1.5 hours and covers the history of the shoe industry, the production and time for shoe shopping. Guided tours for school classes take about 35–45 minutes and can also be about the history of Kumla. |
