About
I was convinced that first-class training was essential for making good instruments, so I started a three-year course in musical instrument making in Belgium, under the tuition of Geert Vermeiren. After completing this course, I worked at the musical instrument department of municipal museum of The Hague, where I was involved in setting up a database of technical drawings of important musical instruments from the major collections of museums around the world. This also gave me the opportunity to study important historical plucked and bowed instruments closely.
Meanwhile I was invited to participate in the entrance examination of the prestigious West Dean College in England. There an international group of students specializes several crafts, including the construction and restoration of historical plucked and bowed instruments. After succesfully passing the entrance examination, I worked for three years as an apprentice under the supervision of two masters, Roger Rose and Martin Haycock, concluding my studies by obtaining my certificate.
After my graduation (1992) and return to Holland, I joined forces with my wife Lucienne van der Lans (Violinmaker) and set up a workshop in the historical centre of Dordrecht, Holland's oldest city.