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Spend a focused afternoon at Atelier Lily van Nunen in Zaandam learning mosaic techniques with Italian smalti and marble. Small groups, materials included — leave with a finished or near-finished artwork and new hands-on skills.
Spend a focused afternoon at Atelier Lily van Nunen in Zaandam learning mosaic techniques with Italian smalti and marble. Small groups, materials included — leave with a finished or near-finished artwork and new hands-on skills.
Book with Atelier In de Hoge Hoed
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Atelier In de Hoge Hoed · Zaandam, Noord-Holland
On a narrow street in Zaandam, at Atelier Lily van Nunen on Havenstraat 129, the clack and scrape of tile cutters replace the city's distant traffic. Workshop Mozaïek Introductie is a hands-on, three-hour introduction to creating mosaics using smalti—thick, richly colored Italian glass—and fragments of marble. In a compact studio designed for small groups (minimum three, maximum four), the artist Lily van Nunen walks you through selecting tesserae, composing a design, and placing pieces so the surface catches light.
The session is practical and tactile: you learn cutting techniques, how to bed pieces in adhesive, and tips for grouting that bring out color and texture. The marble used in the class is genuine veined stone, a reminder that mosaics are a craft of both glass and geology; smalti brings saturated color, while marble adds sculptural weight and natural veining. The studio itself is bright and accessible—wheelchair access is provided—and equipped with individual workbenches, task lighting, and a drying shelf where finished work rests between afternoons when the workshop runs as two linked sessions.
This is not a museum demonstration but active mentorship. Lily’s guidance turns what can be an intimidating medium into a sequence of clear, repeatable skills, ideal for beginners and creative travelers who want a hands-on souvenir. Materials are included, so you leave with a completed work or a substantial start to be finished in a second session. The tight group size means attention to composition, color balance, and finishing techniques you won’t get in larger craft classes.
Why choose this over a generic studio course? The combination of smalti and marble gives your piece a depth and durability that mass-market kits rarely match. Zaandam’s creative scene may not be as famous as Amsterdam’s, but it offers intimacy: local artists, compact studios, and a strong tradition of artisanal industry dating back to the Zaan region’s 17th-century mills. For visitors, this workshop is a sensory counterpoint to walking canals and tall, wooden façades—a quiet, crafted afternoon that produces something personal and portable.
Practical notes: sessions run as a single 3-hour block or two consecutive afternoon sessions; the workshop requires a minimum number of participants and will be rescheduled if the class is undersubscribed. Expect to leave with a finished panel or a nearly finished piece to take home after drying and grouting. Whether you’re a first-time maker or an experienced hand curious about smalti, this introductory workshop delivers focused instruction and a durable, gallery-ready result. Book a spot to work with glass and stone, meet an artist who explains material histories, and take home an artwork that keeps a memory of Zaandam’s hands-on craft scene long after your visit. Reserve early to secure a small-group seat and bring curiosity.
easy.
3 hours.
Light—this is a seated, craft-focused experience suitable for most fitness levels
The introduction runs three hours as a single session or can be split into two afternoon sessions on consecutive weekends.
Yes. Smalti, marble fragments, adhesives and basic tools are provided so you can complete a panel.
Yes—the Atelier Lily van Nunen on Havenstraat 129 is wheelchair accessible.
Minimum three participants and a maximum of four, which keeps the instruction highly personal.
If the class is undersubscribed the workshop will be rescheduled and you’ll be contacted with options.
Absolutely—this is an introductory class designed for people with no prior mosaic experience.
The Zaan region was a hub of early industrial craft in the Netherlands; its 17th-century mills shaped local artisanal traditions.
The studio emphasizes responsible sourcing—using small quantities of local or recycled materials when possible—and minimizes waste by encouraging efficient tesserae cutting and reuse.
Atelier In de Hoge Hoed is a creative studio located in Koog aan de Zaan, Noord-Holland, offering hands-on painting workshops for beginners and experienced artists. The atelier presents a varied program that includes Workshop Portret Schilderen met Projector, Workshop Huisdier Schilderen met Projector, Sip and Paint Workshop, Mixed Media Workshop, Bob Ross© Schilderworkshop, Creative Flow Workshop, Vogels in Aquarel Workshop, Zeedieren in Aquarel Workshop, Sumi-é Workshop, and Ouder & Kind Schilderen. Many sessions provide all materials and a relaxed, supportive setting where participants can experiment with acrylics, watercolors, ink, mixed media elements, and innovative projection techniques. The Bob Ross© Schilderworkshop is led by certified instructors and focuses on landscape painting. The Vogels in Aquarel Workshop is guided step-by-step by artist Barbara Guldenaar, while several projector-based portrait workshops let participants create personal portraits or pet portraits from photographs. Workshops vary in length from two to three and a half hours and typically include guidance suitable for beginners. The studio emphasizes creativity, patient instruction, and a friendly atmosphere that encourages experimentation without pressure. Small-group formats appear in some workshops, and events like Sip and Paint add social elements with drinks and snacks. Atelier In de Hoge Hoed accepts individual bookings and group reservations for special occasions, offering tailored workshop options. Participants leave with finished artworks, practical painting skills, and clear next steps to continue practicing at home independently.
Book with Atelier In de Hoge Hoed