I had a sneak peak inside. This is the ground floor. The first floor has the same dimensions. It will be almost double the size of my current workshop. I can easily imagine working in here!

I didn’t check for 20 days. Good that I went today! The footing has been poured and on the side there already are more blocks to create the outer walls. My ground floor will have underfloor heating, just like I have at the moment. I am informing myself about floor types that can go in just after a build has been completed. ideally I’d like the custom shop to have engineered oak floors but since I have little time for the actual move I have to make sure that this is not going to be destroyed by moisture left in the footing.

The build started on April 2nd 2020.

Here in NL all buildings have a footing that is built on piles. These are long concrete bars with steel reinforcing in them. They drill or ram these piles deep into the surface and pour the footing around them. A week ago I went here and all I saw was a lot of sand. Now suddenly all the piles are in. Next up is pouring the footing.

Today all the official finance papers were signed. Of course I drove to the new location in the hope that my new space would magically be waiting for me ;)

Nothing seems to be going on here yet but in a few weeks the build will start here soon and within 6-7 months from then my building should be finished. From the workshop I will have a view over the green fields on the right. 

Today was a fantastic day! From today on I own my own business building. After having rented for nearly 10 years in three different locations I will now no longer have to fear the day I have to move the shop again. NICE!

The only thing is that the building isn’t there. Yet. It is currently being built in Wijk bij Duurstede. A ten minute bike ride from home. So I have to be patient and use the time between now and the big move in Okt - Nov to make plans and get organised. Walls, electrics, floors, a new setup divided over two floors, etc

This big business move has been made possible by everybody that believes in my work (including my friends and family) and people that come to me for instruments, repairs, lessons, advice, etc.

Besides that I ran a crowdfunder in 2019 that was successful enough to give me the confidence to make such a big step. That crowdfunder had a snowball effect on me personally and I would like to thank all the people that helped me that way again.