Are you looking for a natural way to improve your posture, reduce pain and support your overall well-being? Then barefoot shoes are definitely worth considering! In fact, these shoes are a very valuable addition to the course you follow with us. In our chiropractic practice we see every day how important good posture is for a healthy body, and that good posture starts with the position of your feet. In this blog, we explain why barefoot shoes are so good for you, how they contribute to a healthier body, what the benefits are and where you can go to buy barefoot shoes in the Netherlands, including an exclusive discount code for Barefoot & More (the only physical barefoot shoe shop in the Netherlands).
What are barefoot shoes anyway?
Barefoot shoes, also called minimalist shoes, mimic natural barefoot walking. This encourages your feet to move naturally.
Barefoot shoes have a thin, flexible sole and no heel rise. The heel and forefoot are at the same height, ensuring a natural position of your foot and better posture. The sole of the shoe is often only a few millimetres thick and bends with your foot. This allows you to feel the ground well, which improves your balance and muscle activity. The biggest visible difference on the outside compared to normal shoes is that barefoot shoes have a wide forefoot. This is because most normal shoes are tapered, pressing your toes together. The wide front of these shoes allows your toes to spread freely, which helps with your balance and settlement while walking.
Unlike conventional shoes, barefoot shoes do not offer artificial support or 'cushioning' through a thick sole. In fact, these shoes encourage your feet to stay active on their own and use the right muscles in your feet, ankles and legs. This can take some getting used to when you start running, as you suddenly feel the ground more. But this short transition process is more than worth it!
How healthy are barefoot shoes for your body? (from a chiropractic perspective barefoot shoes benefits)
As chiropractors, we know: everything in the body is interconnected, and the health of your feet directly affects the health of the rest of your body. The benefits of wearing barefoot shoes:
- you train your foot muscles, which helps prevent injuries. Because your feet have to work harder in barefoot shoes, you automatically train the small muscles in your feet and ankles. This prevents instability and strain.
- you improve your posture as your body stands more naturally. Without heel lift, your feet are in their natural position. This straightens your pelvis and puts less strain on your spine. This leads to better posture and less back and neck pain.
- Reduce your risk of injury. Because of the natural movement that barefoot shoes encourage, shocks are better absorbed by your whole body. This reduces the risk of running injuries such as shin splints or heel spur, for example.
- Get your balance better and your running style more efficient. These shoes provide more contact with the ground. This improves your balance, as well as awareness of exactly how you move, which again is important for injury prevention.
- and reduce symptoms of knees, hips or lower back - something we often see with our clients in chiropractic practice.
Barefoot shoes in the Netherlands: where to go?
To date, there is only one physical shop in the Netherlands that is completely dedicated to barefoot shoes, and that is Barefoot Arnhem (Barefoot & More). Are you new to barefoot walking and would like expert advice? We recommend our patients to visit Barefoot & More (note: this is not a sponsored collaboration, we do not earn anything from this!). This specialised shop in Arnhem has a large range of barefoot shoes for women, men and children. There are several shops online that offer these shoes, but especially if you are new to Barefoot walking, it is really worth getting advice and trying on shoes in real life.
Exclusive discount code Barefoot & More
Are you looking for a Barefoot & More discount code? Especially for clients of The Family Chiropractor, we have an exclusive discount code for Barefoot & More. Use the code TFCBarefoot for 10% discount on your purchase (muv existing offers).
Still not convinced?
As journalist Arjen van Veelen wrote in his article in June 2025 for the NRC: "Barefoot shoes helped me tremendously, and not just in walking."
We cannot put it any better: these shoes are not just hype - they support healthy posture, strengthen your feet and help prevent complaints. As a chiropractic practice, we heartily recommend them to anyone who is actively working on their health. And with Barefoot & More's discount code, switching is just that little bit easier!
Want to know more about how barefoot shoes can relieve your symptoms? Then consult with your chiropractor or visit us in Arnhem.
