In this masterclass, you’ll discover how to craft a traditional wooden tub.

You will learn how to fit the wooden staves together, apply the galvanized iron hoops, insert the base, and finally, finish the tub. During the process, you’ll use a hammer and driver to secure the rings to the body. After a final inspection by instructor Marleen Bonami, you will sand the tub to complete it.

Did everything go well? If your tub holds together, you can proudly take your finished creation home!

A cooperage is a workshop where wooden tubs and barrels are made. Barrels are traditionally used to store and transport liquids, think wine and beer. They were also essential in historic shipbuilding. The term “cooperage” also refers to the craft itself.

The profession of traditional cooper is nearly extinct, as barrels and tubs are now mostly machine-made. Nevertheless, the craft remains highly relevant, especially for repairing large barrels, ranging from 200 to an impressive 27,000 litres, used in breweries.

Marleen Bonami still makes tubs by hand for laurel and boxwood growers. She is currently working on flower tubs for the Rubens House in Antwerp, where citrus trees will be planted in preparation for the museum’s reopening.

Due to great success at Ambacht in Beeld Brussels, this workshop now comes to Amsterdam!

Practical Information

• The workshop is conducted in Dutch
• Price includes all materials and VAT