Have you always wanted to weld? Are you curious about what it takes to lay down a perfect weld seam? Do you want to see steel melt under intense heat? This is your chance to get acquainted with it. Do you have that steady hand, the insight, and above all, the feel for the molten pool? The best part is: experience or skill is not required.
In this workshop, taught by De Openbare Werkplaats, you will experience what it is like to TIG weld and what it involves. You will receive a brief explanation of what it is and how it works, but you will primarily experience it by doing it yourself. First, you will practice on some pieces of steel to lay down a nice weld seam by getting the molten pool right. You will learn exactly what this entails during the workshop. Then, you will weld together a small container, and as a test to see if it was successful, we will fill it with water. If the container does not leak, the welding was successful. We provide all the safety equipment, such as a welding helmet, gloves, and possibly an apron or smock.
Metalworking is truly a craft. It requires knowledge, skills, and a lot of practice to become proficient at it. This field ranges from making constructions to creating art and everything in between. One of the most important aspects of metalworking is welding. There are various techniques with different results. To weld metal together in a really beautiful way, or for very fine work, TIG welding is the ideal method. This way, you can lay down the most beautiful weld seam that can either be visible or not, depending on your preference. Both are possible.
De Openbare Werkplaats is the location for craft courses and offers individuals, self-employed persons, and companies the opportunity to use a professional workspace with professional machines on a half-day or project basis.
Practical information
Knitting brings a sense of calm, creativity, and coziness. It’s the perfect mindfulness exercise.
Discover how easy, fun, and addictive knitting can be by learning a few basic techniques. You’ll learn how to cast on, use the knit stitch, and bind off, all while making a stylish headband in a yarn color of your choice. Yarn and needles are provided, along with a darning needle and the knitting pattern — all of which you can take home to keep knitting!
Alice O’Connell is an English knitting teacher who moved from London to Amsterdam 12 years ago. She has been teaching people from around the world since 2005, shortly after becoming addicted to knitting herself. On her website, she offers (online) beginner classes. In addition to teaching, Alice runs her knitting labels Wool & Water and Wool & Whiskers.
Practical Information
The workshop is taught in English
Price includes all materials and VAT
In this workshop, you can choose between two designs: a ginkgo leaf or a geometric garland.
You’ll work with glass, selected by you, a glass cutter, grinder, copper foil, solder, and a soldering iron. No prior glass experience is needed; you’ll be guided step by step through the entire process!
You’ll go home with your very own stained glass window hanger.
In the Tiffany technique, custom-cut glass pieces are edged with copper foil after grinding. You then assemble your stained-glass piece like a puzzle. The copper foil edges are soldered together, allowing for more organic and dynamic designs than traditional stained glass.
Nanouck van Iersel designs, creates, restores, and repairs stained glass artworks. Every piece is handmade using hand tools, allowing for nearly endless possibilities in colour, shape, texture, and line work.
Sustainability is a top priority, Nanouck works exclusively with reclaimed glass (except for restoration projects).
Her journey began at the Hout- en Meubileringscollege (Wood and Furniture College), where she studied interior design and discovered the emotional power of light. She later studied at the Willem de Kooning Academy. Her passion for combining light, colour, and design in a traditional craft led her to stained glass.
“It brings atmosphere to a space and stirs emotion, because let’s be honest, who doesn’t love watching sunlight dance through coloured glass?”
Practical Information
The glass for this workshop is generously sponsored by Silent Art Stained Glass Wholesale.
Example of a garland
In this workshop, the Wereldmuseum introduces you to the technique of Chinese paper carving.
You’ll learn about the history and origins of this traditional craft. Artist Hoi-Shan Mak will teach you the basic techniques:
you’ll start with cutting and then move on to carving a design from red paper.
You’ll go home with your own creations.
The oldest piece of paper is more than 2,000 years old and was found in a Chinese tomb. Paper cutting is almost as old as the invention of paper itself. Designs are cut or carved from a single sheet of paper. In the past, people created decorative patterns with specific meanings to adorn their homes—especially important in times when many couldn’t read. Over time, the practice shifted toward cutting symbols of good fortune.
Made in China is on display from October 17 at the Wereldmuseum Amsterdam. The Wereldmuseum uses China as a case study to offer a fresh perspective on craftsmanship. The exhibition features a rich mix of objects, art, fashion, photography, and video, showcasing China’s maker culture, which is both ancient and vibrantly alive today. It also explores the many meanings of “making” through the work of contemporary artists and designers such as Cao Fei, Susan Fang, Jing He, Ma Ke, and Yang Yongliang.
Practical information
• The workshop will be conducted in Dutch and English
Everyone has cut into a piece of paper with scissors at some point, but in this workshop, you’ll take it a step further. After a short introduction to the art of paper cutting, you’ll learn the basic techniques from an experienced paper artist. Then, you’ll apply these techniques to create your own design using silhouette paper. You’ll also learn how to carefully mount your finished piece.
For centuries, thousands of people around the world have enjoyed the art of paper cutting. It’s fun and relaxing, and people of all ages create beautiful works of art with it. Paper cutting is essentially drawing with scissors—your scissors release your design, decorations, and letters from the paper. And with so many cutters, there are countless styles and variations.
You’ll go home with a framed piece of artwork. Better reserve a spot on your wall already!
The Dutch Association for Paper Art is the meeting place for both hobbyists and professional artists. The workshop instructors are members of this association and are specially trained to teach others the tricks of the trade. Most of them regularly exhibit their work. Since 2013, the art of paper cutting has been officially listed in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Netherlands.
Practical information
• The workshop will be conducted in Dutch
• Price includes materials and VAT
For centuries, thousands of people around the world have enjoyed the art of paper cutting. It’s fun and relaxing, and both young and old create the most beautiful artworks with it. As many cutters as there are, there are just as many variations. It’s no coincidence that this special craft is included in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Netherlands.
Everyone has cut into a sheet of paper with scissors at some point, but in this workshop, you’ll take it a step further. After a short introduction, you’ll learn the basic techniques from experienced paper cutters. Then, you’ll apply these skills yourself in a simple project. At the end, you’ll go home with one or two cut-out artworks. Success guaranteed.
The workshop leaders are members of the Dutch Association for Paper Art, a meeting place for both hobbyists and professional artists. They are specially trained to teach enthusiasts the tricks of the trade. Most of them regularly exhibit their work.
In this weaving workshop for adults, you will create a cover for a plant pot, perfect for plant lovers!
You will go home with your own handmade creation.
Julia Woch (1996, Poland) is an artist and weaver based in Amsterdam. She has a background in architecture (Bachelor at the Cracow University of Technology, master’s in interior architecture research at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam), with a focus on artistic and architectural illustration.
Julia explores and experiments with strategies for feminist spatial design and community building. Her greatest ambition is to combine the disciplines of weaving and spatial planning to practice art and craft in an integrated way. She teaches weaving workshops to both children and adults.
Practical Information
In this weaving workshop for children aged 6 to 12, you will be introduced to a simple weaving technique, working on wooden animal-shaped looms.
You will go home with your own handmade creation.
Julia Woch (1996, Poland) is an artist and weaver based in Amsterdam. She has a background in architecture (Bachelor at the Cracow University of Technology, master’s in interior architecture research at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam), with a focus on artistic and architectural illustration.
Julia explores and experiments with strategies for feminist spatial design and community building. Her greatest ambition is to combine the disciplines of weaving and spatial planning to practice art and craft in an integrated way. She teaches weaving workshops to both children and adults.
Practical Information
Etching is a special printmaking technique, and in his time, Rembrandt was more famous for his etchings than for his paintings.
In this workshop, just like Rembrandt, you will create your own etching using the dry point technique. You will scratch a drawing into a plastic plate with an etching needle, then rub ink into the grooves and print the plate onto a sheet of paper using a real printing press. With just a few tips, you will be amazed at the beautiful and surprising print you can make!
You will go home with your own handmade print.
At Museum Rembrandthuis, you’ll get closer to the artist Rembrandt van Rijn. In the intimate setting of his former home on the Jodenbreestraat in Amsterdam, you’ll get to know the man behind the art and discover his incredible craftsmanship. The museum aims to inspire your own creativity and craft through Rembrandt’s view on art, offering demonstrations of his paint- and etching techniques. The Rembrandt House Museum holds 250 of the over 300 etchings he created.
The museum educators have many years of experience leading etching workshops at the Rembrandt House Museum. They know everything about Rembrandt and his prints, and they know just how to bring out the artist in everyone!
Practical Information
Choose from a dozen objects, from animals to pendants, and create your own piece by casting, sawing, clamping, filing, and polishing with a copper brush or steel wool.
You’ll go home with your handmade figurine in a lovely little pouch.
The craft of pewter casting dates back to Roman times. During the Middle Ages, it was used to make plates, spoons, cups, and pitchers. De Tinnen Lepel practices this age-old craft in a contemporary way, creating animals, pendants, toy soldiers, and various other objects using both traditional and modern casting techniques.
Roger van Driel has been passionately practicing the art of pewter casting for over nine years. He enjoys sharing his knowledge about the different casting and finishing techniques.
Practical Information
Festival address:
NDSM Loods
NDSM-Plein 85
1033 WC Amsterdam
Postal address:
Stichting Ambacht in Beeld
Kalf 158
1509AH Zaandam
The Netherlands
