about

Who Am I – and Where Does the Name Speerbijter Come From?

My journey into the world of natural dyeing began thanks to my husband, who introduced me to Viking re-enactment and the traditional crafts that come with it. I quickly became fascinated by the vibrant colours you can create using plants. We mostly work with dyes that were used in the early medieval period, though occasionally I use modern alternatives when needed.

After years of experimenting, I started bringing my naturally dyed wool to historical markets—and each year, our collection has grown. By now, I’ve been dyeing wool with plants for over 15 years.

So… What Does Speerbijter Mean?

The name was born during a summer stay at the Viking Centre in Ribe, Denmark. Our oldest son was just two years old at the time. Our market stall was still small then, with baskets of wool laid out on the ground. In one photo, you can see him sitting inside a wool basket, happily chewing on one of my husband's spears that was propped against the tent.

The stallholders across from us started calling him Speerbijter – literally, “Spear Biter”. That same summer, we were trying to come up with a name for our stall, and well… Speerbijter stuck.

Over the years, we’ve often wondered if we should change it to something more descriptive, but somehow, we always come back to it. So Speerbijter it is – and will likely always be.

Education

• School for Goldsmiths, Schoonhoven
  Vocational training in goldsmithing, with a focus on craftsmanship and design.

• Reinwardt Academy at the Amsterdam University of the Arts (AHK)
  Degree program in cultural heritage and museum studies.

• Professional Artists in the Classroom (BIK) – AHK
  Post-graduate program for artists working in arts education within schools.