During the free drop-in workshop, you’ll discover the traditional ‘Staphorster Stipwerk’ and create your own stamped card.

‘Staphorster Stipwerk’ is a special, unique technique used to print and decorate fabrics and other materials. Initially, this technique was applied to fabrics used for the traditional clothing of Staphorst.

This printing process uses stamps made from items like wooden bobbins or corks, with nails, pins, and other bits of metal affixed to them. These stamps are dipped in paint and then applied to the material. Stamps with various motifs are combined to create patterns. Each ‘stipper’ (the name for someone who practices Staphorster Stipwerk) develops their own patterns. Some patterns and motifs are commonly repeated among ‘stippers,’ such as leaf and flower designs or folk art examples like the sun wheel, beehive, and six-pointed star.

Not only the motifs, but also the colors of the dots, carry specific meanings. Traditions around mourning heavily influence color choices, where blue, white, and green are mourning colors, and red is not used during mourning periods.

Staphorster Stipwerk is included on the national list of intangible cultural heritage.

The workshop instructors are all craftswomen who have completed the official vocational training in Staphorster Stipwerk.