Fascinated by the world of felt, Anne van de Weijer captures the unique textures and patterns of wool, seeking to express its delicate qualities through the form of her lamps and the warmth of their light. She immerses herself in the intricate process of felting, experimenting with layers of different colours to create pieces that reveal the softness and tactile character of the material.
© Courtesy of the artist
Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?
I live and work in The Hague in the Netherlands.
My shop/atelier is in Boekhorststraat 159 in the old center of The Hague.
Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?
The beach is very nearby so when winter is over I go there often.
Swimming before starting to work or after work is perfect!
© Alireza Parpaei, Unsplash
Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?
Holland is a prosperous country but of course, like everywhere, there are difficulties. For example it is really hard for people now to find a place to live. There is a big shortage of housing. This is one of the problems that makes people in Holland less tolerant of people from outside of the EU.
In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years—and what has not?
The urgent matter of changing to a sustainable society is more clearer than ever before. So a lot has happened over the last 5 years on a larger scale and on a smaller scale. Like in The Hague there are a lot of initiatives like buying local food without packaging, there is a lot of attention paid to the green areas in the city, and you can get a subsidy for making your house more sustainable.
What became worse? (I will skip our political situation ☺)
As most people know Holland is known for its bikes. Nowadays a lot of people have fast E-Bikes. In the city it became less relaxed to move around on your bike because of all these fast road users.
© Liam Read, Unsplash
© Dustin Bowdige, Unsplash
Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers—whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?
Just visit the Boekhorststraat in The Hague. We have several local manufacturers here. Like Willems Werkplaats (woodcraft), Page Not Found (Art books and events), Glitterstudio (illustrations), and other vintage and vinyl shops.
You can also go to the Zeehelden area. There are lots of little special shops.
Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?
The Hague has a large Indonesian community. You can eat for example really nice Indonesian food in Bogor (Van Swietenstraat 2) which is not really in the city center but with a bike you can go there easily.
Another place is ZUID. It is a place on the beach and is open from spring till autumn. I like it because the food and service are good. And it is situated in a quiet part of the beach.
© ZUID
© ZUID
Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?
Just go to the Zeeheldenkwartier: Piet Heinstraat, Prins Hendrikstraat and Weimarstraat. There are so many nice shops and places to eat and drink.
© Cor Gaasbeek from Pixabay
What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?
– WhatsApp
– Duolingo
– Instagram
Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?
Newspaper: Volkskran
Magazine: VPRO Gids
I prefer reading books to magazines and papers.
One last question: If you could choose another place to live—regardless of financial or time constrains—which one would you choose?
Somewhere in a more natural environment with my own vegetable garden and some chickens, close to my work, friends and family.
© Courtesy of the artist
© Courtesy of the artist
© Courtesy of the artist
