Ah, these fine Belgian shoes ! I remember my father pointing out that quality shoes are not an expense, but an investment. Since he wore Ambiorix shoes almost all his life, it was a logic step for me to start wearing Ambiorix shoes as well, as soon as I was out of puberty and growth. Mr. Louis Steyns started his shoe-factory in 1895 in Verviers, in the Walloon region. In 1907 they moved to Tongeren (hence the name Ambiorix, meaning \'Rich King\', king of the Heburons, who lived in Tongeren, and challenged the roman legions of Julius Caesar. He finally drove them out by talking to them after he defeated a group of \'legionnaires\'. Hence his heroic reputation). In the \'50s the company employed about 250 people, but, due to recession, by 1999 they only employed about 80. Mr. George Steyns, grand-son of the founder, then sold the factory as well as the brand \'Ambiorix\' itself. Mr. Sylvain Gielen, together with 2 investment groups, later acquired Ambiorix thru a clever management buy-out. Since january 2007, the family-owned group Vavedin, is running things. They now emply ca. 60 employees and produce about a 100.000 pairs of quality RTW \'hand-made\' shoes a year. Since November 15th, 2009, they may proudly call themselves \'Gebrevetteerd Hofleverancier van Belgi?\': meaning they are accredited suppliers of the Belgian Royal family. In the video below you\'ll see how they make these Belgian quality shoes, with international reputation.