Crafts Academy

Crafts Academy is the talent program of Crafts Council Nederland. It’s aimed at young ambitious makers between the ages of 16 and 30. Crafts Academy offers the opportunity to learn techniques that are not taught in regular education. The teachers are experts in their field and among the very best in the Netherlands. You’ll learn all aspects of design-led making: technique, skill, design, cultural heritage and innovation.

In 2025–2026, you can sign up for ceramics, paper, lace-making and beadwork. Over the course of five Friday afternoons, you’ll explore one of these techniques, experiment and develop your own designs. Read more below about the techniques, the instructors and how to apply.

The classes take place at Museum Kam (Valkhof Museum) in Nijmegen, CODA Museum in Apeldoorn, Museum de Kantfabriek in Horst and the Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam. We’ll be working right in the heart of museum collections, rich libraries of knowledge and inspiration.

Join Crafts Academy and take your next step into the world of design-led making!

Who is it for?

Crafts Academy is specially designed for makers between the ages of 16 and 30 who love hands-on making and design. Whether you’re studying at an art or design school (MBO or HBO), or you’re a passionate maker in your free time, Crafts Academy gives you the opportunity to learn more and grow as a creator.

Costs

The participation fee for Crafts Academy is €70. If this fee is a barrier to your participation, let us know when you apply. We’ve reserved a limited number of spots for participants with a smaller budget. All necessary materials will be provided.

How to apply

You can apply by sending an email to guusje@craftscouncil.nl. Please include the following:

– Your name, age and contact details
– The technique you’d like to sign up for
– A short motivation: why do you want to join Crafts Academy? What do you hope to learn or explore
– Any relevant experience or education in making and design

Note: Each technique has a maximum of 10 spots available. Applications will be processed in the order they are received. Once a technique is full, we will update the website. After applying, you’ll receive a payment link. Your spot is only confirmed once payment is completed.

The techniques

Ceramics

Where: Museum Kam and Fabrikaat, Nijmegen
When: 12, 19, 26 September and 3 & 10 October 2025
Time: 12:00–17:00
Instructors: Katerien ter Meulen (Fabrikaat) and Rink Schelling

Thousands of years ago, the Romans in Nijmegen were already crafting pots, bowls and cups from clay. Their ceramics weren’t just beautiful — they were cleverly designed to last. Today, we revisit that craftsmanship as a way to work sustainably with natural materials. At the museum, curator Marenne Zandstra will give you a guided tour. Inspired by the Romans, you’ll get hands-on with natural river clay and learn every step of the ceramic-making process. With Fabrikaat, you’ll dig and prepare your own clay, create test tiles and cast a Roman-style dented cup. With Rink, you’ll explore hand-building techniques to shape your own unique pieces.

Paper

Where: CODA Museum, Apeldoorn
When: 12, 19, 26 September and 3 & 10 October 2025
Time: 12:00–17:00

Paper may seem simple, but it has a rich history and surprisingly diverse possibilities. At CODA, you’ll begin with a guided tour of the exhibition CODA Paper Art 2025, where you’ll discover how national and international artists use paper as a fully-fledged material for sculptures, installations and objects.

Afterwards, you’ll get hands-on with papermaking, paper cutting and laser cutting. Guided by a range of instructors, you’ll explore how to shape, cut and transform paper, combining traditional craft with modern technology.

Lace

Where: Museum de Kantfabriek, Horst
When: 9, 16, 30 January and 13 & 27 February 2026
Time: 12:00–17:00
Instructors: Rinie Verhaegh-Verlinden and Ekaterina Ravina

Horst, in the province of Limburg, holds a special place in the history of bobbin lace. For centuries, skilled artisans created exquisite lace here, using techniques passed down from generation to generation. Museum de Kantfabriek houses a remarkable collection of both historical and contemporary lace. Bobbin lace is an art form with endless possibilities, from traditional patterns to modern design, from jewelry and fashion accessories to innovative new applications, all made using this centuries-old technique. Learn from experienced lacemaker Rinie Verhaegh-Verlinden and innovative maker-designer Ekaterina Ravina, and become part of a new generation of makers.

Beads

Where: Wereldmuseum, Rotterdam
When: 9, 16, 30 January and 13 & 27 February 2026
Time: 12:00–17:00
Instructors: Chequita Nahar and Larissa Schepers

Beads have existed for at least 100,000 years and were originally made from shells, bones and stones. In ancient Egypt, glass beads symbolized wealth and protection, often used in jewelry and mummification adornments. In Africa, trade and glass beads served as currency and indicators of social status. Indigenous peoples in North America used shell wampum beads for diplomacy and spirituality. During European colonization, Venetian and Czech glass beads were traded globally and became integrated into many cultures. In Hinduism and Buddhism, mala beads symbolize spiritual enlightenment and are used in meditation. In Islam and Christianity, prayer beads such as the rosary are used for devotion. Today, beads are made from materials like plastic, metal and ceramics and are popular in both fashion and art. They often symbolize luck, protection or connection — for example in amulets and friendship bracelets. Beads continue to be powerful symbols of identity, culture and personal expression. Over the course of five sessions, you’ll learn to make beads from a variety of materials and apply them in your own design.

A selection of feedback from participants in 2023:

Contact

Do you have a question about Crafts Academy? Get in touch with Guusje Heesakkers at guusje@craftscouncil.nl.

Crafts Academy is made possible with support from the Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie, European Crafts Alliance, the European Union, Wereldmuseum and Museum Valkhof.