The Wunderkammer Times | Issue 6

The Wunderkammer

TIMES

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3 ABOUT THE WUNDERKAMMER TIMES

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5 URBAN FARM THE BIRDHOUSE

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SHOPPING PAGE PORTUGESE CERAMICS

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DE L’EUROPE AMSTERDAM COLLABORATION SHOP AT DE L’EUROPE

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TREASURE OF THE MOMENT VENETIAN INSECTS

25 MEET THE TEAM MAXIME & MORITZ

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH VOICES FOR JUSTICE

THE WUNDERKAMMER WEBSHOP BOUQUET SERVICE

URBAN FARM VEGETABLE GARDENING

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INSPIRING ARTIST NICEMAKERS

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COLUMN THE WUNDERKAMMER FAMILY MEMBER

“Our work as florists and decorators is driven by our passion for nature. We see ourselves more as gallery owners and nature as our artist. We try to present natures products, flora, minerals and fauna in a way that surprises everyone. “

COLOPHON Florian Seyd & Ueli Signer Gaby Waltman info@thewunderkammer.eu Madeleine Woon

For more information, questions, remarks and subscription to the newsletter please contact info@thewunderkammer.eu or subscribe on our website www.thewunderkammer.eu.

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FLORAL AMAZEMENT BLOSSOM

The Wunderkammer by floral artists Florian Seyd and Ueli Signer provides styling, botanical advice and floral decorations internationally.

Editor in Chief Creative Director Press and communication Text Editor

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ABOUT THE .

WUNDERKAMMER TIMES The Wunderkammer Times during COVID-19. I never thought our world could change so quickly.

In December 2019, we were looking forward to starting 2020 with bright-eyed optimism and a healthy dollop of curiosity for what the magical year ahead would bring. Even the sound ‘twenty twenty’ held such promise! Three months into 2020 and that profound sense of grandeur and magic has been replaced by a different kind of awakening. The pause button has been pressed. We are in the midst of a crisis, but as always, we want to find the silver lining.

Those of us lucky enough to be able to do so are being asked to slow down, to reflect, to evaluate, to be creative in all pockets of our lives, and, most importantly, to collectively work together to exceptional lengths to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community are safe.

Until the beginning of March, The Wunderkammer 2020 plan was in full bloom. Our spring agenda was sprinkled with floral-flavoured celebrations — wonderful parties, events, product launches and a big wedding in Spain among them. Now, we are also being asked to stand still and revise our abilities during this time as some events are postponed, others “may happen later” and many are cancelled. While we were working on this spring issue full of flower happiness, the crisis hit us hard.

In place of a printed issue for you to pick up at our new adventure in De L’Europe Amsterdam — ’t Huys (the opening of which has been postponed until further notice), or at the Human Rights Watch Voices for Justice Dinner (there’s no gala, but they are busy giving help to those who need it during these unusual times), we decided to take things digital. This online issue will reach you wherever you are! The special spring edition also contains flower tips and tricks and links to florals and objects to make the days spent indoors more heartwarming and enjoyable for you and your loved ones. There’s also the chance to get your hands muddy while creating your own vegetable garden, courtesy of using our instructions on pages 8 / 9.

Let’s hope these bizarre times will soon be a memory we can all share together, having learned invaluable lessons on the importance of slowing down and being thankful for the simple things. It breaks my heart to hear of all the flowers being thrown away by growers and at the auction because nobody buys them. It is my hope that this spring issue will bring some floral delight to you, inspiring you to fill your homes with beautiful bunches of blooms. Within its pages, I also hope you find a much-needed brain break from COVID-19 news, with gentle reminders of all the hypnotic beauty and tiny wonders that can be found in springtime, if only we take the time to sit and marvel at its splendour.

“To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.” — William Blake, 1789

Stay calm, stay safe and I look forward to being with all of you again soon. Ueli Signer, Florian Seyd & Team The Wunderkammer Would you like to keep up to date with us on a daily basis?

Follow us on Facebook/TheWunderkammer and Instagram @thewunderkammer_amsterdam

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URBAN FARM THE BIRDHOUSE We started knocking down most of the insides of the house and took down a few walls. From December on, the rebuilding took place slowly and the interiors of the house started to take shape.

The feeling of power and energy the green gives us is palpable—we are so close to a big city, yet we live completely with the seasons.

In the not too distant future, we would like to open our home up for a few weekends each year so we can all enjoy it together.

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As you may have read in the last issue of The Wunderkammer Times, our dreams recently came true when we got our hands on a beautiful house and piece of land just outside of Amsterdam.

Our slice of heaven sits in Waterland, a breezy 20 minutes drive from Central Station, and is enclosed by pastures and water. Our first project was building the garden, as we were able to do so with our own hands and knowledge. After this was finished, we moved on to making plans for the house. In November 2018, we started knocking down most of the insides of the house and took down a few walls. From December on, the rebuilding took place slowly and the interiors of the house started to take shape.

The painters came in March 2019, and we decided to paint everything green. Leaves were our inspiration: sage green, tilia green, parsley green and moss green.

From that moment on, we started to bring in all the furniture Ueli has made in the last ten years for our 20 Shops for a Week (see The Wunderkammer Times issue 3). There are many special pieces—some were bought, some were remade in customers sizes, but quite a lot were kept in storage. Now, we were finally able to set the tone with all our work sitting pretty inside our own four walls. After finding spots for the big pieces, we were able to unpack many small items that had been sitting in moving boxes since June 2017. What a joy it was to be surrounded by sculptures and objects we had not seen for years.

Up until now, only friends have visited and enjoyed our home and garden. In the not too distant future, we would like to open our home up to the public for a few weekends each year so we can all enjoy it together. We want to use our space for small private events, photoshoots and garden visits.

The wonders of nature are all around us here at The Urban Farm. The feeling of power and energy the green gives us is palpable—we are so close to a big city, yet we live completely with the seasons.

For us, that is magical. -

Our painters were a bit shocked initially. Normally, they painted one wall in a colour, but never all the walls and all the ceilings in the same colour. After finishing their job, they agreed that our colour palette was something special.

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URBAN FARM VEGETABLE GARDENING Growing a vegetable garden has been on our wishlist for a long time. Nothing compares to the feeling of walking outside and fetching salad leaves, picking a sun-warmed tomato or plucking some fresh beans from your own garden, with nothing but nature having left their mark on them. Last spring we started to realise this dream.

An area of The Urban Farm was prepared with a root cloth, raised beds were installed and after they were filled with nice compost, the fun began. We planted a few small veggie plants that we bought as seedlings—think cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers and the like. We sewed carrots, salad leaves, beans and peas ourselves directly in the beds. Our new plant babies responded well to frequent watering and our excitement levels started to build. Harvesting took a few months, but once it started, it didn’t stop until late in the fall.

Homegrown salad leaves are so crunchy and fresh, and the satisfaction you feel when you take the fruits of your labour and make it into a beautiful meal is incomparable. We are always looking for beauty in everything, so we planted rows of each plant type, not imagining that it would all be ready at the same time. Wrong! Friends took home some of our crop and our deep freeze is still quite full of vegetables. This year, we’re looking forward to trying out some new things.

On the next page we included a video where we will sew the first batches of spring for all the green thumbs out there. Here’s hoping we will have a wonderful summer harvest like last year.

PS: If you do not have a garden, but do have a balcony, many of the vegetables will also grow in pots! Would you like us to help? Please contact us via info@thewunderkammer.eu. -

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TV TV

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Mackerel fish â‚Ź 77,50 Height 7.5 cm x Width 37 cm x Depth 5 cm

SHOPPING PAGE PORTUGESE CERAMICS These beloved Portugese ceramics have delighted the world with their unique and iconoclastic looks. To create them the approach is simple: moulding creative non-conformity and functionality together.

For us, these pieces succeed in capturing the joys of nature and serves it alongside a good dash of humour!

Aubergine bowl with lid â‚Ź 77.50 Height 14 cm x Width 32.5 cm x Depth 14 cm

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Cabbage bowl round € 82,50 Height 10.5 cm x Diameter 40 cm

Cabbage bowl with lid € 127,50 Height 17 cm x Diameter 34 cm

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HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH VOICES FOR JUSTICE for underreporting cases of infection, withholding information about the coronavirus from the public, and dismissing the likelihood of transmissions between people. Beijing’s conduct gave the coronavirus a two to three-week head start, with disastrous consequences for public health around the world. We reported on the coronavirus outbreak in Venezuela, with its broken health care system, how it could endanger all of Latin America, the effect on school closings for poor children, and what a ban on visitors could mean for older people in institutions as well as prisoners behind bars.

Human Rights Watch is proud to be partnering with The Wunderkammer. We had initially planned to work together on the Amsterdam Voices for Justice Annual Dinner in May 2020, yet will postpone that due to COVID-19. While we are temporarily shifting the way we work to ensure the health of our partners, supporters and our staff, it does not change the mission of Human Rights Watch, which is to protect people who are at risk and to safeguard human rights.

“We go to the ground and speak directly to the people…

We take their stories directly to policymakers and the public who join with us to push for change.”

Human Rights Watch is an international organisation organization founded 40 years ago to defend the rights of the most vulnerable. We are roughly 450 people of 70-plus nationalities who are country experts, lawyers, journalists, and others who work to protect the most at risk, from vulnerable minorities and civilians in wartime, to refugees and children in need. We investigate facts on the ground in 100 countries—often in partnership with local groups. We expose our findings to the broadest audience possible. We then meet with policymakers to offer realistic solutions, and we engage the public to join us in calling for meaningful, lasting change. We direct our advocacy towards governments, armed groups and businesses, pushing them to change or enforce their laws, policies and practices.

—Mausi Segun, Executive Director, Africa Division Rather than accepting the degradation of human rights, people around the world are increasingly coming together to insist on change. In Sudan and Algeria, people have overthrown long-time tyrants. In Egypt, Hungary, Lebanon, Russia, Turkey, and Hong Kong, people have taken to the streets or deployed the ballot box to demand freedom and democracy. In many countries, women and girls are standing up for gender equity and inclusion. An extraordinary global movement is fighting inaction on climate change and its accompanying threats to human rights.

Victory is a long way off, but real progress has still been made. Highlights include: significant movements to protect civilians in the war in Yemen, a spotlight on China’s mass detention of Uighur Muslims, defending democratic institutions in Hungary, releasing children from Nigerian military detention, and increasing access to education for people with disabilities.

To ensure our independence, we refuse government funding and carefully review all donations to ensure that they are consistent with our policies, mission, and values. We partner with organisations large and small across the globe to protect embattled activists and to help hold abusers to account and bring justice to victims. To safeguard our autonomy Human Right Watch organises a series of Voices for Justice dinners around the world. For these events we partner with creative entrepreneurs like The Wunderkammer to help us attract new supporters and to create unforgettable events. The donations from our Voices for Justice dinners enable us to carry out our research and advocacy work, so that we can continue to defend the fundamental values of justice, dignity and equality. We look forward to working together in the future and are very grateful for this unique partnership. -

Human Rights Watch is proud to play a central role in these movements, which confront many of humanity’s biggest challenges. By investigating human rights abuses, exposing them to public outrage, offering solutions and generating intense pressure for change, we work alongside many others to promote justice, dignity, tolerance, and equality. We responded quickly to the current COVID-19 crisis. In late January, we began investigating the human rights dimensions to COVID-19. We called out the Chinese government

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THE WUNDERKAMMER WEBSHOP BOUQUET SERVICE In lieu of a reassuring hug, use the power of flowers to send positive vibes to your nearest and dearest in these unusual times and all other times. We do believe in the power of positivity, and hope that we can help to spread it with our bouquets.

As we like to arrange all flowers ourselves, the fresh flower bouquet service is only possible in the Amsterdam area. If you are looking for a flower delivery outside Amsterdam, please see our (equally as beautiful) dried flower bouquets.

You will find all the options on our webstore, with bouquets starting at 25 euros each.

WHAT Online bouquet service WHERE Visit our The Wunderkammer webshop

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Spring Flowers Bouquet

The Wunderkammer Urban Farm Bouquet

Dried Flowers Bouquet

Give someone you love the gift of springtime in Holland, or invite the flowers inside your own home.

This bunch was picked with your home in mind from The Wunderkammer Urban Farm. All the flowers were plucked at the farm, 20 minutes away from the Amsterdam city center, and were grown naturally without the use of chemicals.

These flowers will last a long time, whether they are a gift or if they are going to take up residence in your own home.

In this arrangement, you will find a mix of Dutch-grown tulips, bulb flowers, budding branches and other cold greenhouse treasures (anemones, ranunculus, papaver, etc).

This arrangement is for nature lovers and green-hearted people. Expect a mix of budding branches from our orchard, some great leaves from the garden and the first flowers (helleborus, hyacinthus, narcissus, etc). See the above video for a glimpse inside how and where we create these bouquets.

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These dried beauties can be sent to addresses in and outside of Amsterdam. -

DE L’EUROPE AMSTERDAM COLLABORATION SHOP AT DE L’EUROPE In De L’Europe Amsterdam, a permanent showroom of The Wunderkammer can be found in ‘t Huys. A renovated wing of the hotel, with its own entrance on the Nieuwe Doelenstraat, where both locals and hotel guests can visit.

An address where The Wunderkammer displays their interior objects, curiosities and some florals. From this location their team also takes care of all flowers and plants for the five star hotel itself.

Please visit our website or contact our office for information regarding the opening times, the objects or other requests. You can also make an appointment with a The Wunderkammer team member to discuss your wishes.

WHAT Shop at De L’Europe WHERE Nieuwe Doelenstraat 10 1012 CP Amsterdam OPENING HOURS Inactive till further notice please keep an eye at our websites ‘Shop at De L’Europe’ page for the information regarding the reopening

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Amsterdam is home to a slew of fantastic hotels: the Waldorf Astoria, the Pulitzer and Soho House among them. But, there is one that eclipses them all with its unique location and building: the De L’Europe Amsterdam.

Sitting in the heart of Amsterdam and encased in an historic building, the hotel is renowned for its world-class hospitality and stands as a glorious embodiment of the Dutch lifestyle.

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When we were asked by De L’Europe Amsterdam and the Nicemakers to become their floral signature by opening up a workshop in ’t Huys, we didn’t take long to make up our minds. Especially when hearing that MENDO would open up a flagship book store, that Skin Institute would relaunch their facilities, and that a new Italian trattoria “Graziella” would open its doors within the space. We promptly agreed that yes, t’ Huys will be the place to spend our time and energy on. A place where locals and hotel guests can meet up, enjoy a bite, buy a present and enjoy a slice of Amsterdam’s creative scene together. Just when the final touches were being made, Covid-19 temporarily caused us to stop.

buds are proof of this), a fantastic looking bookstore, a deluxe spa to indulge in, and our floral-studded workshop, all designed by Nicemakers. You can pop by to look through a wonderful selection of books, enjoy a glass of wine, set your culinary aspirations alight with small bites or a sit-down meal, or to look through our shop and make an appointment with us. This special place is all about revelling in the joys of being alive. The beauty of life itself, the warmth of social gatherings, and enjoyment for enjoyment’s sake. We might not be able to experience it right now, but know that wonderful inspiration is waiting for you on the other side. If your interest is piqued, we will be there to welcome you into our shop at De L’Europe in this brand new gem right in the heart of Amsterdam.

What can you expect to find there once you are able to visit? A restyled and updated De L’Europe Amsterdam, the tasty new Italian trattoria (our taste

See you there! -

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TREASURE OF THE MOMENT VENETIAN INSECTS Venice is a place we regularly return to for work, as one of our long-standing customers is situated in Veneto. We always manage to justify sneaking in a day either side of work to explore its narrow streets, hidden alleyways and endlessly romantic canals. An ethereal city, it is best explored in summer at 6am before the rest of the world wakes up. As you aimlessly amble through the empty cobbled streets, you get the feeling that you are the only living souls in the city. This is something we find ourselves doing often.

on another trip to Venice. Ueli speaks Italian, and so he asked the owner about his glass insects. The owner told us he was the first person to make them—they are now copied in China and all through Veneto, but none compare to the exquisite beauty of the originals. I have been collecting real insects for many years, and so understood what he was talking about when he said all his glass insects closely resembled real creepy critters. It’s not like us to pass up beautiful trinkets, so we bought a whole lot of these fascinating objects to take home with us.

On one of our early morning adventures, Ueli and I discovered the most amazing glass insects— pure, delicate handmade little wonders—peering out at us from a workshop window. It was early in the morning. The shop was closed. “We will remember where this is, for sure!” we foolishly told ourselves. How wrong we were. No amount of cursing our own stupidity or searching the seemingly identical streets would lead us back to that majestic shop. We returned home feeling slightly dejected.

You have seen them gazing out at you from the cover and poster of this issue. Nature’s wonders recreated in glass by a true artisan. As it is real glass, and therefore very delicate, buying them via our webshop is sadly not an option. But don’t fret—if you like a look at them, please make an appointment with us or visit us soon at our Shop at De L’Europe once they open again. For now, due to the Covid-19 measurements, they are inactive till further notice. But keep an eye at our websites ‘Shop at De L’Europe’ page for more information regarding the reopening. -

Serendipitously, we stumbled upon the workshop

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MEET THE TEAM MAXIME & MORITZ Last year it was unanimously decided that there were two giant puppy-shaped holes in The Wunderkammer team.

On this we could all agree. Ueli and I quickly set about to right this wrong, searching high and low for the perfect set. Should our furry new colleagues take the form of dachshunds? Kelpies? A mix?

As fate would have it, the puppies found us.

The backstory: We spent last summer holidays in Ueli’s home village, soaking up the sunshine and hiking in the Swiss mountains (they start right in front of his parents farm). Ueli’s sister-in-law alerted us to the fact that the neighbouring farm was in possession of a litter of very adorable puppies. I fell in love hard and fast. Ueli, on the other hand, needed more time to let the idea percolate in his mind. Over lunch, he pondered taking two Appenzellers back home to Holland with us, and alas, it turned out he also couldn’t resist. We visited our neighbours as soon as lunch was finished and picked out two puppies. Ueli chose the one furthest away from us in the litter, and I landed on the one who tried to climb over the fence to meet us.

The hard part: We needed to wait another two months before we were finally allowed to pick them up. A real exercise in patience.

The happy ending: They have been with us since September, 2019. What a joy!

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Maxime Who? Maxime, Gonten - Switzerland What? Company dog, sister to Moritz Also known as: Max Dream place: Being with her tribe on the Urban Farm When not dreaming: Running through tall grass with my brother Mo, wind blowing through my fur, or giving sloppy kisses and licks to everybody I can reach Guilty pleasure: This one time I jumped on the table and ate some chocolate eggs. Oeps. My dream is that every day of the year is Easter. Oh, and also that dogs aren’t allergic to chocolate :( Words by team members: Monstertje, silly, affectionate Favourite item in the webshop: I dream of one day sleeping on the velvet orange Ardmore monkey cushion. As you can see, I have a lot of big dreams for a tiny girl

Moritz Who? Moritz, Gonten - Switzerland What? Company dog, brother to Maxime Also known as: Mo Dream place: In front of the fireplace sleeping with a full belly When not dreaming: I am always on the watch and protect my folks Guilty pleasure: Chasing the guinea fowl, even though it is not allowed Words by team members: Good looking, sweet, well behaved, strong Favourite item in the webshop: I’ll know I have made it in life when I drink my water from the lotus flower marble plate. What a delight -

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INSPIRING ARTIST NICEMAKERS Interior designers Joyce Urbanus and Dax Roll are partners in life and design. They set out to become the professional dream team now known, togheter with the other members of their team, as Nicemakers sinds 2011. The duo live and work together in Amsterdam, often travelling the world to seek out new inspiration.

De L’Europe Amsterdam just opened the doors of ‘t Huys. The ‘t Huys is a renovated wing of the hotel, complete with its own entrance on the Nieuwe Doelenstraat, where both Amsterdam residents and hotel guests can find “original Amsterdam luxury’’. The ‘t Huys is home to three Amsterdam icons of art, style and luxury: Bookstore MENDO, Skins Institute spa and the studio of high-end florists, The Wunderkammer. Epicureans will be glad to know there’s also a new Italian restaurant, Trattoria Graziella.

The creative couple are at the forefront of the interior design world. Their respective backgrounds within the field of interior design and styling, and concepts and creative direction, along with their perfectly attuned antennae for style, people and places, and their unapologetic ambition and relentless hard work have all coalesced to solidify their spot at the top.

Nicemakers are looking to recreate the style and intimacy of an Amsterdam canal house for ‘t Huys. In MENDO’s beautiful library-esque shop, you can languorously flip through a novel in one of the cosy armchairs or pour over a coffee table book, uninterrupted, at the spacious reading table. Your tastebuds will sing over a personal dinner or a presentation at Trattoria Graziella.

The location of The Wunderkammer in ‘t Huys serves as a studio where founders Florian Seyd and Ueli Signer showcase their floral artworks, interior objects and the fruits of their many curiosities. Here, they also take care of all the flowers and plants for the adjacent hotel, De L’Europe Amsterdam.

Their portfolio is overflowing with beautifully decorated private residences, retail concepts, and various restaurants and hotels. Their vast body of work is built on what the two describe as a “magic flow of energy”, which has underscored everything they’ve done from the outset.

Part of this “flow of energy” is De L’Europe, the five-star luxury hotel in Amsterdam, which recently announced its redesign in collaboration with Nicemakers. During the coming months, De L’Europe Amsterdam will undergo its redesign in several phases. The design changes will take effect throughout this time—from the interiors of rooms, suites and private event venues, to the hotel’s high-end culinary offerings and the grand hotel lobby.

This special new place in the city is a melting pot of creative forces. Hopefully we can all meet there again soon to experience the magic flow of energy that courses through its four walls. -

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FLORAL AMAZEMENT BLOSSOM In this spring issue we wanted to write about the blossoms that will be joining us this month and next. Plums will open up the flower festival, apple and cherry trees will be next in the lineup, quince and pear trees will follow, and the closing act will be the hawthorn.

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Most of the blossoms will show their flowers on branches with little to no leaves visible. On a sunny day, standing under such a tree in full bloom, you will hear the buzz of the honey bees and that of their plump cousin, the bumblebee.

people come here to enjoy and eat together under the trees, celebrating spring and the blossom’s fleeting beauty. In Japanese culture, the seasons are seen as being reflective of the life cycle: spring as birth, summer as ripening into adolescents, autumn as the weakening of age, and winter as death.

For many people, blossoms are synonymous with all that spring has to offer: a new start, a sign of hope, and (hopefully of) a rich harvest. No other culture lionizes blossoms as much as Japan does.

There are whole temple gardens devoted to plums (Ume) and others to cherries (Sakura). While in flower,

We are fortunate to be in the spring season of blossoms and we should inhale as much of their beauty as is humanly possible. Search for a blossom tree in your neighbourhood and cherish this rich gift of nature for the short while that it is here. -

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COLUMN THE WUNDERKAMMER FAMILY MEMBER In 2010, a mutual friend introduced me to Florian and Ueli and their floral splendour at Shop for a Week in the Kerkstraat. Time stood still as I ambled around that magical space, eyes endlessly wandering and discovering new things. My heart skipped a beat being surrounded by so much natural beauty. (How could it not?).

Florian and Ueli had just decided to merge their two companies, and they were eager to put their new venture, The Wunderkammer, on the map. With a background in Marketing & Communications for high-end fashion brands, I came onboard as a freelancer, helping them to create their first website, press release and newsletter. I remember saying, “But I have no (PR) network here in the Netherlands!” Florian replied, “That’s fine, we have an excel spreadsheet.” So the first press release was written. My father drove me to the city so I could print them in good quality and send them by post. My god, this seems so much more than 10 years ago! In the beginning it was hard. I’d call the editors of fashion magazines and they would say, “Why do you call us? You are not a fashion designer?” When I would call the interior magazines they would say a similar thing. So the question was: How would a bigger group of people and businesses get to know us? The boys already had an intimate group of tastemakers that had discovered them through Shop for a Week, but how to take that next step?

The answer: Collaboration, co-branding, and working with and for well-known brands.

It is through collaboration that the biggest joy is found; when different creative masters come together and challenge each other throughout the whole design process.

When I think about what The Wunderkammer means to me, many words spring to mind. Authenticity, top quality, abundance, love for nature, gezellig, pure and good quality materials, crazy deadlines (but always time for celebration with some Holtkamp delicacies, of course). There’s an endless flow of creativity pulsing through The Wunderkammer team, and to be in a brainstorm session with them is always a feast. The impossible is made possible with solution-based thinking, both creatively on the design side of things and in terms of production, too.

Florian and Ueli have taught me a lot about materials over the years. Every detail counts, personal attention and care is important, and we should always try and say, “Yes, we can make this work.” Their minds move fast, their creativity never ceases to inspire, and they always over deliver. It has made me so proud to have been a part of their team for all those years.

I have been studying Permaculture for a year. For those unfamiliar, Permaculture is a holistic, living-in-harmony-with-nature worldview, as well as a technical approach for how to do so. It is a philosophy that promotes working with nature rather than against it; of thoughtful observation, rather than protracted and thoughtless labour; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single product system.

Permaculture gives us the tools to leave the Earth better than we found it, and it is not limited to agriculture. It also touches on subjects like governance, for instance sociocracy, a system which seeks to achieve solutions that create harmonious social environments as well as productive organisations and businesses. Super interesting! Ueli has also been studying this for a while now and has integrated certain elements into The Wunderkammer Urban Farm. They use permaculture practices in their vegetable garden and in the ‘production garden’ where Florian and Ueli grow flowers and plants that are then used in their projects and events. This brings a beautiful circularity to their process.

My time at The Wunderkammer is coming to an end. (I’m following my Permaculture adventure. Watch this space). As I look back on all my years here, I am so thankful.

Thankful to have been part of The Wunderkammer family, for having met all of you, and for all the joy we have shared!

Au revoir! - Marjolein van Zanten

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Photography Vivian Camphuijsen

Photography Hendrik Coetzee

Jewellery design and sculpture Bibi van der Velden

Ceramic Portugese Ceramics

Photography RVDA

www.viviancamphuijsen.nl

Jewellery design and sculpture Bibi van der Velden

www.thewunderkammerwebshop.com

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Render Gaby Waltman

www.bibivandervelden.com

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Photography Vivian Camphuijsen

Photography Omi

Jewellery design and sculpture Bibi van der Velden

www.hrw.org/nl

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De L’Europe Amsterdam | ‘t Huys

Photography Florian Seyd

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Photography Florian Seyd

The Wunderkammer Urban Farm TV

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www.nicemakers.com

Photography James Stokes Photography Florian Seyd

Photography James Stokes

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26 Interior designers Nicemakers

www.deleurope.com/nl/t-huys/ www.nicemakers.com

Photography Florian Seyd

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Photography Florian Seyd

Interior design Nicemakers

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The Wunderkammer Urban Farm TV

www.annetimmer.com

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www.bibivandervelden.com

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www.viviancamphuijsen.nl

Photography Florian Seyd

Photography Anne Timmer for FD Persoonlijk

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Human Rights Watch

Photography Anastasia Taylor-Lind

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Photography Vivian Camphuijsen

courtesy of The Green Gallery

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28 Photography Florian Seyd

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OFFICE T: +31(0)20 - 428 3558 Struisgrasstraat 11 E: info@thewunderkammer.eu 1032 LE Amsterdam W: www.thewunderkammer.eu The Netherlands