Ceramics in the making

On a wintry Thursday evening, Marijn and I headed to Benoordenhout for a Clay & Glaze workshop at Het Keramisch Huis. Spoiler alert: it was so much fun!

As soon as you step inside, you can tell it’s a creative space. The anti-squat building they’re currently in is warmly decorated with unique ceramics, flickering candles, cozy corners, and a spacious studio in the back.

We take our seats at a long table in the studio, together with a group of other enthusiastic women. We’re given a cup of tea (served, of course, in a handmade ceramic mug) and listen to Michelle, one of the two owners of Het Keramisch Huis, as she explains the process.

After a short introduction, it’s time to get hands-on. But then comes the big question: what am I going to make? Marijn opts for a little dish shaped like a fried egg, and I attempt to create a pair of ceramic letters. In front of us are all kinds of tools to shape and work the clay. Michelle hands out the clay, there are boards on the side to roll it out, and behind us is a row of glaze paints. Off we go.

After about an hour, we’re happy with our creations and leave them to dry briefly. In the meantime, we pick out our paint colors, and after about fifteen minutes, we can already start adding color to our clay pieces. At the Clay & Glaze workshop, you can paint right away—no need to wait days for the clay to dry. Extra fun if you want to finish your piece in one go.

But for the final result, we’ll need a bit more patience. After glazing, the pieces need about four to six weeks to dry before they go into the kiln to be fired. So you’ll have to wait a little longer for the final reveal!

After about an hour, we’re happy with our creations and leave them to dry briefly. In the meantime, we pick out our paint colors, and after about fifteen minutes, we can already start adding color to our clay pieces. At the Clay & Glaze workshop, you can paint right away, no need to wait days for the clay to dry. Extra fun if you want to finish your piece in one go.

But for the final result, we’ll need a bit more patience. After glazing, the pieces need about four to six weeks to dry before they go into the kiln to be fired. So you’ll have to wait a little longer for the final reveal!