In the children’s workshop Make Your Own Surinamese Celebration Scarf!, you’ll create your own colourful shoulder scarf, just like the ones worn by Indigenous children in Suriname during special celebrations.
What will you do?
Come join us to discover, create, and celebrate!
Take home a piece of Surinamese magic and help keep this unique heritage alive. Colourful fun guaranteed!
For the parents:
During this creative workshop, children will explore the rich cultural heritage of Suriname’s Indigenous peoples in a playful and engaging way. Not only will your child create a beautiful keepsake, but they’ll also learn about meaningful traditions from the Amazon region.
Carla, Martha Sabajo, and Marilyn van Rijn, born in Suriname, are proud culture bearers of the Lokono community. As members of Stichting Wasjikwa, they devote their time to preserving and passing on Indigenous cultural heritage.
Their motivation comes from a deep connection to their roots. They believe that traditional techniques cannot be separated from the stories, values, and spirituality woven into them. For Carla, Martha, and Marilyn, passing on Indigenous knowledge is about more than just teaching technique, it’s about sharing an entire way of life.
During their workshops, they create a warm, community-centered atmosphere where participants not only learn practical skills but also hear personal stories about the importance of culture and community.
Practical Information
To pass on the love of making to children, the Ambachtenbus (Crafts Bus) offers fun workshops for kids aged 8 and up, led with great enthusiasm by Bram Korte.
Crafts are becoming less visible in today’s society. By creating something themselves, children experience the joy of making and discover that it’s not always as easy as it looks.
Offering children this hands-on experience aligns with one of the core goals of Ambachtelijk Vakmanschap Nederland: to pass on the love of craftsmanship and bring (renewed) appreciation for traditional skills back into the spotlight.
The bus is equipped with hand tools, workstations, and leftover materials, allowing children aged 8 and up to get creative under Bram Korte’s inspiring guidance.
Offered by the platform Ambachtelijk Vakmanschap Nederland.
A first introduction to carpentry of small artistic objects, for children (and their parents) under the guidance of Ruben La Cruz and Karolien Helweg. If desired, the object can also be painted. The theme is animals. You can build by following an example or use your own imagination.
La Cruz and Helweg have been working together for over 20 years developing and delivering relevant art projects and workshops for children (and their parents).
This year, children can once again join in for free to help build and paint a life-sized, colourful fantasy creature made of papier-mâché, guided by visual artist Edson Bruno Filho.
Papier-mâché is a technique where pieces of paper are combined with an adhesive substance (such as wallpaper paste or flour mixed with water) to create sturdy shapes or objects. The name comes from French and literally means “chewed paper.”
Edson Bruno Filho, originally from Rio de Janeiro, lives and works in Amsterdam and is a visual artist. He paints, creates objects, and sculptures, and leads workshops. His work is deeply inspired by nature and is characterized by bright colours, imaginative shapes, and a playful aesthetic.
In this duo workshop for parent and child, you will be introduced to the Japanese Shibori technique. Learn to experiment with various natural colours and create shapes and patterns by folding, clamping, and tying fabric.
During this dyeing workshop, you will work with natural dyes to create a unique festive garland. You will experiment with plant-based colours such as indigo, madder root, onion skins, turmeric, weld, and logwood. You will learn how the natural dyeing process works, how to create patterns using the Shibori technique, and how to blend colours by layering dyes on the fabric.
Together, you will make 24 flags, enough for a beautiful, personalized garland to take home that will last a lifetime!
Marte Haverkamp is a visual artist who gives the traditional craft of natural dyeing a contemporary twist. She works with dyes derived from plants, flowers, and kitchen waste to colour textiles in a sustainable way. Each colour is a synergy of material, time, and care – a process that requires patience, experimentation, and a connection with nature. In her workshops, Marte demonstrates how this centuries-old technique remains accessible and relevant in today’s world.
Practical information
In this fun and cozy workshop, you will work with beautifully coloured wool, water, and soap. You get to choose the colour of your fish, then let your creativity run free to make, for example, a rainbow fish! Each step is explained calmly so everyone can follow along easily. At the end of the workshop, you will proudly take home your own unique 3D fantasy fish!
Felting is a traditional craft technique in which wool fibres are bonded together to form a sturdy fabric without weaving or knitting. It is one of the oldest textile techniques in the world. There are two main types of felting: Wet felting uses wool fibres, water, soap, and friction. The combination of heat and agitation causes the tiny barbs on the wool fibres to interlock, forming a dense fabric. This technique is commonly used to make hats, bags, slippers, and art pieces.
Dry felting (also known as needle felting) uses special barbed felting needles. By repeatedly poking the needle into the wool, the fibres interlock and form shapes. This method is popular for creating small figures or decorative items.
Amber Paans is a felting instructor and visual artist, specializing in the wet-felting technique. Around 15 years ago, she discovered the art of felting with sheep’s wool and immediately fell in love with the craft. What began as a passion grew through years of self-study and attending inspiring masterclasses into her own felting studio: Ambrosia Naturals. In her studio in Zaandam, she offers various workshops in different felting techniques for both young and old. She also enjoys teaching in schools, passing on this beautiful craft to the new generation!
Practical Information:
Have you always wanted to design your own phone case? In this workshop, you will work with the wet-felting technique and beautiful sheep’s wool. The pouches are created using a 3D technique, formed around a mould. You will choose your own colours and patterns, so your pouch perfectly matches your style. The workshop is suitable for both beginners and more advanced participants each step will be explained clearly and calmly. Once your pouch is finished, you will receive a cord so you can wear it. It will need some time to dry, but after that, you will be able to show off your own unique, handmade phone pouch!
Felting is a traditional craft technique in which wool fibres are bonded together to form a sturdy fabric without weaving or knitting. It is one of the oldest textile techniques in the world. There are two main types of felting: Wet felting uses wool fibres, water, soap, and friction. The combination of heat and agitation causes the tiny barbs on the wool fibres to interlock, forming a dense fabric. This technique is commonly used to make hats, bags, slippers, and art pieces.
Dry felting (also known as needle felting) uses special barbed felting needles. By repeatedly poking the needle into the wool, the fibres interlock and form shapes. This method is popular for creating small figures or decorative items.
Amber Paans is a felting instructor and visual artist, specializing in the wet-felting technique. Around 15 years ago, she discovered the art of felting with sheep’s wool and immediately fell in love with the craft. What began as a passion grew through years of self-study and attending inspiring masterclasses into her own felting studio: Ambrosia Naturals. In her studio in Zaandam, she offers various workshops in different felting techniques for both young and old. She also enjoys teaching in schools, passing on this beautiful craft to the next generation!
Practical Information:
Festival address:
NDSM Loods
NDSM-Plein 85
1033 WC Amsterdam
Postal address:
Stichting Ambacht in Beeld
Kalf 158
1509AH Zaandam
The Netherlands
