Trip to the Netherlands and the Thatch Event 2018
We were invited to a Thatch Event – Trade fair in the Netherlands. What a great opportunity to meet more people with ‘thatch’ interests and also to visit another country with some amazing thatch.
On the right here is the event invitation.
The Trip to the Thatch Event
Apart from being rather chilly the journey was fine and we travelled north from Amsterdam via the Hoge Veluwe National Park to Zwolle. This Thatch Event was being held in IJsselhallen Zwolle on Friday, 9th February 2018. Our Dutch friend was also attending the Thatch Event and had offered to pick us up. The Thatchers Event was open from noon until 9pm so the morning was time for sight-seeing. His offer to take us to visit the famous thatched village, Giethoorn, was keenly taken up. We even saw Water Reed being harvested and stacked on the trip there.
Visiting Giethoorn before the Thatch Event
We arrived at the beautiful village of Giethoorn – also known as the Venice of the Netherlands. It is well documented but we could not resist taking more pictures of some fascinating thatched homes and buildings. All the properties, surrounded by waterways with bridges and limited vehicular access. We even saw a thatched boathouses, garden buildings, mansard roofs, as well as quaint cottages. A plethora of different windows and styles with painted shutters or crazy eaves. This location will warrant its own article as so many great pictures were taken. A spot of traditional pea and sausage soup for lunch was warming and very welcome then off to the Thatch Event.
The Thatch Event
The Thatch Event trade fair is held, we understand, biannually at IJsselhallen Zwolle. This is an opportunity for thatchers, suppliers and other specialists to get together and discuss thatch. The exhibition stands were varied from thatchers, to specialist insurance, ridge tiles or scaffolding. The picture below shows the layout and lists the exhibitors.
An interesting exhibition, where we also got the opportunity to meet the Dutch Federation and the Dutch Guild of Thatchers. It is not really surprising that the similarities outweighed the differences when it came to discussion. Luckily everyone should be commended on their excellent spoken English. Relying on our Dutch at this Thatch Event would have been very limiting. It felt very familiar, being surrounded by thatchers and thatch specialists and suppliers. After all a ladder is a ladder… or is it?
Thanks for the Thatch Event
We look forward to staying in touch with contacts made. As you know the Thatch Advice Centre talks to everyone as its emphasis is for the good of thatch. This Thatch Event has extended our reach to more ‘thatch’ specialists. Many thanks to the organisers, especially Joyce Bouwknegt who welcomed us and introduced us to many people. We enjoyed meeting everyone and feel it was a very worthwhile trip.
