Participation is at your own risk. Please do not wear highly flammable clothing!

After a detailed introduction and a selection of example drawings, you will forge your own piece under the guidance of a blacksmith. You will heat a steel strip in the forge and shape it with a hammer on the anvil into your very own seahorse.

After starting his own business in the metalworking industry, Cees Pronk began researching blacksmithing education in the Netherlands in 1999/2000. He discovered that a proper vocational training programme no longer existed, which inspired him to develop one himself. The learning objectives he wrote, approved by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), formed the foundation for the curriculum and teaching materials of Mondra Opleidingen. In addition to the Blacksmithing Training Programme, the organisation also offers a wide range of workshops and masterclasses for children, adults, artists and primary school pupils. All activities take place at Smederij Cornelis Pronk, the place to learn traditional blacksmithing techniques.

As of 1 January 2024, Smederij Cornelis Pronk has been taken over by Lotte Pronk, Cees Pronk’s daughter, ensuring that the business remains in the family.