In 2025, we carried out a major renovation. Nothing special, you might think β until you realize we live in Giethoorn. No road in front of our door. No car you can just pull up. Everything here happensβ¦ over water.
Materials, tools, and construction waste β everything had to be transported by boat. That requires planning, patience, and sometimes just a little bit of creativity.
We didn't do this renovation alone. The entire team helped out, just like our neighbors, family members, and other handy people who wanted to lend a hand. We are extremely grateful for that.
In the videos below, we show you what that looks like in practice.
Watch the renovation π
Part 1 β Emptying the shop
Everything had to go.
Part 2 β Working as a team
Large flatboat at the jetty, container on board, and starting the demolition.
Part 3 β Tearing down 40 years of history
Dismantling the shop, removing rubble, and logistics over water.
Part 4 β Foundation & concrete floor
Supplying insulation and pouring a concrete floor with a 100-meter hose.
Part 5 β Underfloor heating & insulation
Warm feet for the future, screed, and color choices.
Part 6 β Construction & finishing
Installing walls, painting with the whole team, and a new floor.
Part 7 β End of the renovation
Not quite finished, but back open: furnishing, building the stairs.
We are open again!
π Curious for more Giethoorn? Discover what our village looks like in the winter: frozen canals, snow on thatched roofs, and absolute silence. Watch the winter videos β
Grateful for all the help
Thanks to everyone who helped β big and small, professional and spontaneous. Without your efforts, flexibility, and good humor, this simply wouldn't have been possible.
The result is a shop that is ready for the future again, but still feels the way Giethoorn should feel: personal, calm, and crafted with care.
Come see the end result
Are you in Giethoorn? Be sure to pop in and see the final result yourself. And of course, you can immediately discover our handmade collection of pearls and jewelry β each piece made with just as much care as this renovation.
π View our collection β | Plan your visit to Giethoorn
P.S. Curious about more stories about Giethoorn, pearls, and our studio? See all our blogs β
