The best creative workshops in Amsterdam

Searching for a creative workshop in Amsterdam (or a creatieve workshop, if you are searching in Dutch) gives you hundreds of options. Most are fine. A few are genuinely memorable. The difference is almost always the person teaching: someone who practises the craft for a living, in their own studio, with a group small enough that they can actually watch your hands.

Every workshop below is led by an independent Amsterdam artisan we work with at Handworks. Prices are per person and include materials.

How we chose

• Led by a working artisan, not a franchise instructor.
• Small groups, so you get real guidance at the bench.
• You leave with something finished that you made yourself.
• No experience needed, unless stated.

1. Tufting: rugs and pillows

Hannah teaches tufting with a tufting gun in her studio: tuft your own rug (€138.00), build a tufted pillow (€149.00), or turn your pet into a tufted rug (€149.00). Loud, quick and very satisfying. Sessions run with a minimum of four guests.

2. Recycled silver jewellery

With silversmith Laura Essayie you shape a ring (€270.00), a bracelet (€360.00) or a pair of earrings (€320.00) from recycled silver. It is the most premium workshop on this list, and the piece is real jewellery you will wear for years.

3. Leather: bags and notebooks

Margriet Meijer guides you through cutting and stitching your own leather bag (€117.00). For something shorter, Bonne van Olst teaches you to fold your own leather notebook (€65.00), a lovely gift to make for someone else.

4. Kintsugi

Annelies Nuy teaches the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with gold-coloured seams (€89.00). Slow, calm and quietly meditative: the closest thing to ceramics on this list, and a favourite for anyone who wants a gentler afternoon.

5. Painting: palette knife and fluid art

Artist Lisa Prokopetc runs two painting workshops: an oil canvas with palette knife or brush (€75.00), and fluid art pouring (€80.00). Both work well for complete beginners who think they cannot paint.

6. Soap, textile and traditional crafts

• Cold process soap with Marlies van Heusden (€75.00).
• Modular accessories from laser-cut textile pieces with Iris Nijenhuis (€80.00).
• A traditional arrow, crafted by hand with Thomas Ravestein (€69.00).

7. Creative food workshops

If your idea of creative involves eating the result, Amsterdam's food artisans are some of the best teachers in the city:

• Fresh pasta from scratch with Chiara Di Falco (€69.00), or ravioli and tagliatelle with Nicola Inquieto (€89.50).
• Your own chocolate bar with Malou Dronkers (€55.00).
• Classic Italian tiramisu with Chiara Di Falco (€39.00).
• Artisanal cheese with Paula Colchero (€99.00).
• Lactofermented vegetables with Moritz Huber (€79.00).
• A bowl of matcha with MoyChay (€66.00), or filter coffee with Ahmad Alshikh (€90.00).
• Distil your own bottle of rum with Spirited Union (€76.00).

Which creative workshop should you pick?

• For a date: pasta, chocolate or palette knife painting.
• For a calm afternoon alone: kintsugi or soap making.
• For something to wear: silver jewellery.
• For something big and bold for your home: tufting.
• For a gift: a Handworks gift card, so they can choose themselves.

Booking with a group

Many of these artisans also host private groups and team outings. Send a group request through Handworks and we will match you with the right artisan and date.