The present invention relates to novel waterborne adhesives which are polymerizable by UV light and are capable of being activated by heat, and which particularly display good adhesion to difficult substrates, such as ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) with a low vinyl acetate content, or rubber. The invention further provides a novel method in which, after the application of the waterborne adhesive to an article and drying, irradiation with UV light and at the same time or thereafter activation by heat are performed. The adhesive film which is irradiated and activated in this way is then bonded to a further article. The invention also provides the use of the adhesives to make items such as shoes.