Learn a craft in the Cotton Printing Shop

There are many old crafts to be found in the Netherlands. Some of these crafts you can even learn, for example during a fun workshop. OpstapmetLisa was recently invited to take a look at the Cotton Printing Company in Amersfoort. This visit was part of the Kom naar Buiten! campaign of Visit Utrecht Region. The Katoendrukkerij is located in the historic Volmolen, adjacent to the Koppelpoort.

A first introduction to this craft

When we arrived at the Katoendrukkerij we had just done a great photo route through Amersfoort. The photo route ended at our final destination, namely the Volmolen. The Volmolen is attached to the Koppelpoort, so to speak. The historic building, the Volmolen, overlooks the weir lock. Here we had an appointment with Nathalie Cassée, owner of the cotton print shop. We received a warm welcome. There had just been a group who had done a workshop. This group consisted of men and women of all age groups. So cotton printing is definitely not just for older people! Indeed, according to Nathalie, it is a very popular craft to pick up.

The Mill

Once we were inside the workspace, we were very impressed. The history of the building is almost tangible! Built in 1645, The Volmolen is the symbol of the city’s centuries-old textile industry. This building was home to the first cotton printing plant in Europe in the 17th century. Cotton was hand painted or printed here to give it a luxurious appearance. Together with the Gilde Amersfoort, the Katroendrukkerij has previously put together a fun package for people who want to learn more about this fascinating history. Nathalie has been in the Volmolen since October 2020. Nathalie: “It is really great that after centuries this craft has returned to the old place!”

Cotton printing as a craft

Nathalie learned the art of cotton printing, or rather “block printing,” in workshops in India and Europe. Meanwhile, the Cotton Printing Workshop has amassed an impressive collection of stamps. Nathalie explained that she had just received a batch of stamps from someone’s private collection. These stamps, as well as the patterns they have, are centuries old and therefore very precious to the Cotton Printing Office and the Dutch textile craft! “People who have booked a workshop really get to work with the materials themselves. Anyone can learn block printing and you can use the end result right away!” said Nathalie. “Just being creative is, especially in times of Corona, really wonderful. It is therefore also very unfortunate that the Cotton Print Shop had to close its doors again.”

Many opportunities

Nathalie is really eager to get back to work in the studio. With people, of course, because it is great fun to teach. In the attic of the Volmolen is a large space where an entire company can attend a workshop at the same time. But it is also rented out to hold meetings and consultations, for example. “The Attic is really an inspiring space. The most beautiful ideas and creative things always arise here,” Nathalie says proudly when we enter the space. The space is indeed beautiful: very spacious, very light and with a fantastic view over the old center of Amersfoort.

Spending the night at the Katoendrukkerij

To top it off, the full-mill is also a real B&B! There are two beautiful rooms (both with stunning views) and a shared bathroom. This B&B is not only in a beautiful historic building, it is also right in the center of Amersfoort! Really a place to remember if you want something special.

Let’s just hope very hard that everything can be fully reopened soon so everyone can enjoy this fantastic city, this beautiful building and that fascinating craft again!

Credits photos: de Katoendrukkerij (like the cover photo) and OpstapmetLisa. This blog was created editorially and in collaboration with Visit Utrecht Region, Time for Amersfoort Citymarketing Amersfoort.