Get your first introduction to woodworking by crafting small artistic objects, designed for children (and their parents). If desired, you can also paint your creation. The theme is animals, and you can either follow a provided example or let your imagination run wild.
Under the guidance of La Cruz and Helweg, who have collaborated for over 20 years in developing and conducting art projects and workshops for children (and their parents).
Sessions run continuously on both days, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Hausgemacht invites you into the world of woodcarving. You will start with a basic rough shape of a spoon, spatula, or butter knife and then refine it. Learn about different types of wood, the use of basic carving tools, cutting techniques, and how to finish your carving beautifully.
You will go home with a handcrafted spoon, spatula, or butter knife.
Hausgemacht is a mobile space for handcraft, craftsmanship, and creative play in Belgium. We aim to get people ‘out of their heads and into their hands,’ fostering a reconnection with ourselves, natural materials, and each other.
We strive to use waste materials whenever possible, recognizing the need to care for our planet. We believe that making unique and sustainable items by hand can contribute to a better world and happier people.
Adults can engage in various craft techniques at the workshop, such as woodcarving, glasswork, textile arts, and printmaking.
For children, we offer basic play materials made from natural and recycled materials. This encourages creative play and lets their imagination run free. In our creative workshops, they explore upcycling and natural materials, starting from handcraft and craftsmanship techniques.
With the help of a pocket knife, we’ll transform a raw branch into a splendid walking stick. If you have a knack for using a knife, you might even add intricate carvings and designs to your creation.
Once you’re content with your masterpiece, we’ll drill a hole and attach a vibrant, colorful rope to your walking stick for that finishing touch.
Hausgemacht is a dynamic mobile haven for handicrafts, crafts, and creative exploration in Belgium. Our mission is to guide people from all walks of life to shift from overthinking to hands-on crafting. In a world where reconnection with ourselves, natural elements, and one another is vital, we’re here to inspire you.
We prioritize utilizing residual materials as much as possible, respecting the Earth’s capacity. We believe that crafting unique and sustainable items with our hands can foster a happier world and a healthier planet.
For adults, our workshops offer a diverse array of craft techniques, including woodcarving, glasswork, textiles, and printing. Meanwhile, children have access to a plethora of basic play materials crafted from natural and recycled sources. This encourages imaginative play, where creativity knows no bounds. Our creative workshops introduce kids to upcycling and the use of natural materials while they play, all rooted in the principles of crafts and handicraft techniques.
During this workshop, you will make your own wooden photo frame. It starts with choosing from three different types of wood. Then, we will create the frame using traditional methods with various machines and tools. You will learn to work with the miter press, band saw, and dovetail router. We will also make a Polaroid photo that can be immediately placed in the frame. At home, you can replace it with a photo of your choice!
Students from the Hout- en Meubileringscollege will enthusiastically guide you through this workshop. Most of them are enrolled in a woodworking program.
HMC (Hout- en Meubileringscollege) has been an independent vocational school since 1929. We are a relatively small school, which contributes to a personal and safe environment. We train students for careers in interior design, furniture, technology, and design. We offer programs for various professions including furniture maker, interior advisor, creative craftsman, home sales advisor, carpenter, upholsterer, and piano technician. We also offer courses and training for adults.
Furniture restoration is a refined craft that combines tradition and skill, breathing new life into old, worn furniture without losing its character and story. Each scratch and discoloration tells a story, and it is the art of the restorer to respect these stories while restoring the furniture to its former glory.
Restoring furniture requires in-depth knowledge of wood, veneer, and historical techniques, combined with a subtle sense of aesthetics. Restorers are masters at repairing damaged furniture. They repair woodwork with precision and patience, fill cracks, and renew old finishes.
With a love for the craft and an eye for detail, each piece is carefully dismantled, repaired, and reassembled. This process combines craftsmanship and creativity to preserve not only the beauty but also the soul of a piece of furniture.
Ruud Beerens is a professional furniture restorer at his workshop, Beerens Antiekrestauratie, in Gemert. With years of experience, he specializes in the restoration and conservation of veneered furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries. He also expertly restores wooden objects from all historical periods, from the early Middle Ages to the present, including sculptures, clock cases, mirror frames, ornaments, and antique tools.
Ruud is happy to provide an inside look into the world of furniture restoration on Sunday. He is a vocational teacher of furniture restoration at Het Ambachtshuis Brabant in Gemert.
Sign up for this workshop and experience the joy of working with wood yourself. During the workshop, you will engage in fine woodworking. Unlike carpentry where you use nails and a hammer, you will work primarily with chisels and a saw.
Working with wood brings together craftsmanship, creativity, and skill. It starts with selecting the right piece of wood, with the scent of freshly cut timber stimulating your senses. You then transform this natural material using tools and techniques, with each chisel stroke and saw cut revealing more of your project or piece of furniture.
Not only will you derive satisfaction from your own creation, but the birds in the garden will also enjoy the results!
Peter Pothoven is a vocational teacher of furniture making at Het Ambachtshuis Brabant in Den Bosch.
Japanese Kumiko is a refined woodworking craft used to create shoji (room dividers). This traditional technique, practiced in Japan for centuries, requires great precision and craftsmanship. Each piece of wood is carefully cut and tailored to fit perfectly into the pattern, resulting in a seamless and sturdy construction. No glue or nails are used in the process. The patterns range from simple to extremely complex and often have symbolic meanings. Kumiko combines functional sturdiness with visual elegance and reflects the Japanese appreciation for craftsmanship, simplicity, and harmony with nature.
In the Japanese Kumiko workshop, you will learn the basic techniques of cutting and shaping wooden strips using Japanese tools. Precision is key to forming a beautiful geometric pattern, as no nails or glue are used. You will create your own small Kumiko panel, which can be finished with rice paper and is perfect as a decorative artwork for your home, a coaster, or a window hanger. All necessary materials and tools will be provided, and you can also order them to continue working on this refined technique at home.
The Beemsterschool for Furniture Making is a school dedicated to both professional furniture makers and hobbyists. Located in the picturesque Beemsterpolder, the school offers an inspiring setting for anyone interested in learning the art of woodworking. The Beemsterschool is known for its hands-on approach, where participants start working with their hands from day one. Experienced instructors guide them in developing both traditional and modern techniques. The school offers a variety of courses and workshops. With a strong focus on quality and sustainability, the Beemsterschool aims to train craftsmen and hobbyists who are capable of creating high-quality, artisanal furniture pieces.
Marquetry is an ancient woodcraft technique where very thin wood is cut, assembled, and glued onto a core wood. By using different types of wood with their natural colors, a unique image is quickly created. This refined work requires great craftsmanship and precision; each piece of veneer must fit perfectly to form a seamless whole. The result is a unique and decorative surface that highlights the natural beauty and variety of wood. This technique is applied in furniture, artwork, and interior elements, offering a special combination of visual refinement and artisanal skill.
In this workshop, you will learn how to combine different types of wood veneer to create beautiful, unique patterns. The thin wood is carefully cut and assembled into a composition designed by you, then it can be glued and finished. At the end of the workshop, you will take home a handmade, decorative coaster that is both functional and stylish.
The Beemsterschool for Furniture Making is a school dedicated to both professional furniture makers and hobbyists. Located in the picturesque Beemsterpolder, the school offers an inspiring setting for anyone who wants to learn the art of woodworking. The Beemsterschool is known for its hands-on approach, where participants start working with their hands from day one. Experienced instructors guide them in developing both traditional and modern techniques. The school offers various courses and workshops. With a strong focus on quality and sustainability, the Beemsterschool aims to train craftsmen and hobbyists who are capable of creating high-quality, artisanal furniture pieces.
Are you fascinated by the workings of a marionette or the play with traditional rod puppets? In this workshop, you will gain insight into the construction of a wooden theater puppet. As a participant, you will learn the basic techniques of carving with sharp knives in linden wood. During this collaborative project, participants will work for two hours on a part of a theater puppet. By the end of the day, the torso, arms, hands, legs, feet, and character head will come together to form a complete figure.
You will gain experience in wood carving: you will carve a small hand from linden wood to take home as a project.
Marc Beuten is a puppet maker and puppeteer at vzw Poppentheater Pierewiet. He has attended workshops and courses with international puppet makers from Belgium, the UK, the Czech Republic, and Iceland. His specialty is making hand, rod, string, and table puppets from linden wood. Besides designing figures for his own performances, he creates theater puppets on commission for puppet theaters and storytellers. Both novice and experienced puppeteers and makers are welcome in his studio in Bruges to explore the wide range of theater puppets or to share experiences.
As a member of the West Flanders Union of Puppet Theaters, Marc, along with Alain Verhelst of Draadpoppentheater Roeselare/Das de Puppe, brings the figurative theater as intangible heritage into the spotlight. The project ‘Das de Puppe’ was nominated as an inspiring example by Immaterieel Erfgoed Vlaanderen.
Under the guidance of a real carpenter and his team, you can help build a tiny, tiny house. For both younger and older children: sawing wood, planing, drilling holes, driving screws, and hammering nails. It’s super fun, even if you’ve never done it before, we’ll help you get started!
Ruud Dubel is a furniture maker and fine woodworker in Amsterdam. He loves fun, quirky, challenging, simple, and unexpected ideas and will be guiding the creative building process during the festival.
Will you come and join us in building?
Young children must be supervised by parents/guardians. Parents/guardians are responsible for their children at all times. The festival does not accept liability.
Festival address:
NDSM Loods
NDSM-Plein 85
1033 WC Amsterdam
Postal address:
Stichting Ambacht in Beeld
Kalf 158
1509AH Zaandam
The Netherlands
