Local Makers: Studio Hamerhaai
The tastiest treats, prettiest puzzles, cleverest cutting boards, purest coffee and quirkiest wooden figures—all crafted by Amsterdam-based makers. But how do they create these treasures? And what makes their products so special? In this edition, we enter the creative world of Studio Hamerhaai. We interviewed the founders Niki Schoondergang and Boudewijn van den Bosch about how they came up with the idea for their Rijkswachters (or ‘Rijks watchers’, reflecting their role as guardians of the museum's artworks). But first, check out this video to see how these wooden robots are made.
Furniture from reclaimed wood
Boudewijn van den Bosch started making furniture when he moved into his own place as a student, and what began as a hobby gradually turned into a full-time job. With his girlfriend Niki, he designed and created furniture from scrap wood—or rather, wood that would have otherwise been thrown away.
Rijksmuseum connection
Around this time, the Rijksmuseum was undergoing renovations, and all the artworks were stored in wooden crates. Nikki and Boudewijn knew that once the museum reopened, these crates would no longer be needed. They wanted to repurpose the wood, so they emailed various contacts at the Rijksmuseum. They were finally put in touch with Wim Houben, who was responsible for storing the artworks. He was happy to give them the crates when they were no longer needed.
Birth of the Rijkswachters
Niki and Boudewijn are big fans of robots, so they decided to use the crates to create wooden robots of all sizes. The smaller ones make great decorative pieces, while the larger Rijkswachters come with a lamp on their heads and some even sport lit-up eyes. What makes them extra special? Each crate was numbered, so when you buy a Rijkswachter, you can use the code on the robot to discover which artwork your robot once protected. It’s one more reason to covet these quirky Rijkswachters.
The I amsterdam Store, your go-to shop for Amsterdam gifts, gives a platform to the stories of local makers like Studio Hamerhaai. You’ll find us at the back of Central Station, in the IJ-hal.
