What a wool blanket says about the future of wool
Editors ·
Waarde van wol opens at the Zuiderzeemuseum on 23 October. Historical clothing and a new chair model ask what can be done with a material often discarded.
Waarde van wol opens at the Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen on 23 October 2026. The exhibition in the Schathuys runs through 5 September 2027. It brings woollen objects from the museum collection together with contemporary attempts to reuse Dutch wool.
The historical collection includes caps, fishermen’s sweaters, workwear and regional dress. A sleeping cap from Marken, known as an Itse muth, shows how wool also served everyday clothing and protection. The museum places such objects alongside makers investigating the material today.
One starting point is Garen met Geheugen, a project that uses discarded Dutch wool in a circular way for boatmen’s and fishermen’s sweaters and other products. The museum also mentions Pleed, a community of spinners, weavers, knitters, crocheters and felt makers working with local wool that would otherwise be thrown away. An old material thus acquires a present-day chain of collectors and makers.
Christien Meindertsma presents a scale model of her WOBOT Chair, made specially for the museum. According to the press release, the chair was developed with a robot that processes local wool. The exhibit is a model: the research does not establish that a full-size chair is on display.
In the Wollab, visitors can look at, touch and smell wool, find their own “itch point” and repair woollen clothing. The subject moves from the display case to how a material feels and how it can be used for longer.
Waarde van wol is included in museum admission, and the Museumkaart is valid. The Schathuys is at Wierdijk 12 in Enkhuizen. On selected dates the museum offers free one-hour tours for visitors with an admission ticket. Check current visiting information before travelling.