Just decades ago there were thousands. Now only about 30 Dutch clog-makers remain, fighting to save a dying craft with the wooden shoes more often found today as fridge-magnets rather than footwear.

It’s a striking move for Vans to embrace the clog format, especially with a design that leans so hard into futuristic minimalism. Looking at the Vans Future Clog in light of the Dutch clog’s history, ...