Figure 1.--The black military-style boots are an important part of the VNJ uniform. They are also worn by other largely Flemish youth groups like Chiro.

VNJ boys usually wear black high-top boots, rather military style boots. This gives them a rather unususual look when worn with white socks and short pants. Some of the younger boys do not wear the boots. The bootys worn by the VNJ boys are the type that’s called ABL or "Armée Belge/Belgisch Leger" in the typical hydrid French/Dutch Belgian jargon. The Chirojeugd wear the same style, at least those few groups that are holding on to the "old style" uniform of black corduroy shorts and dark brown shirts. I presume they are an imitation of regular British army boots (nicknamed ‘ammo boots’) of the 1950s and 60s that were common to many Belgian youth groups of the time.