There’s so much you can do with greenery! We invite green experts to give workshops and lectures about city gardening, vegetable gardening, house plants, and much, much more.
Most workshops are both in English and Dutch because they can be translated on the spot. If a workshop/lecture is only in Dutch, it’s clearly stated.
Sign up quickly because full = full. Sign up to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with our workshop offerings.
Question about a workshop? Send an email to: workshops@wildernisamsterdam.nl
Illustrate your own little houseplant book with watercolor
Thursday November 8 – Start workshop 19.30
Flowers and plants inspire many artists and illustrators, including illustrator Valesca van Waveren. Under the guidance of Valesca you start a series of illustrations using watercolor, forming a great basis for your own houseplant booklet, where ou can note information and tips about room plants. A kind of herbarium, but different! Be inspired by all the green in Wilderniss. All materials used during the course are provided (watercolors, brushes and sketchbook) and you’ll go home with a nice booklet to be able to expand on.
When: Thursday november 8 – walk in at 19.15 start workshop 19.30
Costs: 50 euros, including materials and coffee/tea.
Sorry, this workshop is fully booked.
How to keep your plants alive (English spoken)
Thursday November 15 – Start workshop 19.30
Do you dream of an urban jungle in your house, but you don’t know where to start? During this English spoken workshop you’ll learn how to take care of your plants. Iris – Mama Botanica – will teach you what makes your plants happy. There will be time to ask questions and discuss your urgent plant problems. After the workshop you get a handy e-book, just in case you need to have another peak.
When: Thursday november 15 – walk in at 19.15 start workshop 19.30
Costs: 25 euros, including coffee/tea and an e-book.
Sorry this workshop is fully booked.
Past workshops:
Make your own terrarium
Create your own closed terrarium with Wildernis colleague and terrarium specialist Malou from Studio Wüst. How does the photosynthesis and the water cycle work; how do you build up your soil and how do you take long term care of your terrarium? Malou explains all the nescessities for a stable and healthy tropical climate encased in glass, while you are building and planting your own.
Costs: 65 euros, including materials (terrarium + content) and coffee/tea.
Zo houd je je planten in leven
This workshop is in Dutch.
Wil jij ook Super Groene Vingers? Tijdens deze workshop leer hoe je je planten gelukkig houdt en hoe je je eigen urban jungle kan laten groeien. Wildernis collega en plantenkenner Iris – Mama Botanica – leert je de basics van plantenverzorging en geeft je haar persoonlijke tips & tricks. Tijdens de workshop is er voldoende ruimte om vragen te stellen. Na afloop krijg je ook een handig e-book – voor als je het allemaal even niet meer weet.
Kosten: 25 euro, inclusief koffie/thee en een e-book.
Natural Dyeing
Discover the colors inside the most powerful flowers. In this workshop you will learn from Elin de Jong how you can color textiles with natural extracts. Using traditional techniques demonstrated by Elin you’ll change a piece of organic silk into a beautiful patterned scarf with vibrant shades and shadows. In addition to dyeing, you learn about the healing effects of the flowers used.
Creating an edible urban garden
This workshop is in english.
Did the gardener’s seed in you wake up a bit late? Are you still dreaming to grow and harvest food this year? It’s never too late! Join us for this fun and hands-on workshop on how to grow your own edible, urban garden in small spaces like balconies, window sills, allotments or roof terraces. Through this introduction workshop you will get an overview of the herbs, vegetables, edible flowers and small fruit suitable for your growing area and that can provide you with yummy and healthy food!
Suitable for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
Urban gardening, everyone can do it.
This workshop is in Dutch.
Vaste planten, eenjarigen, klimmers, bollen, heesters. Pfff.. Met groen kan zoveel, je ziet door de planten het bos niet meer. Diana en Menke van De Tuinvrouwen nemen de mogelijkheden met je door en geven je een basis waar je iets mee kan. Ja, ook op je balkon/dakterras/
Batwalk
This workshop is in Dutch.
Wist je dat er in Amsterdam wel 8 verschillende soorten vleermuizen leven? Sluit aan bij stadsecoloog en Wildernis collega Koen Wonders van Natuurbureau Wonders, tijdens een vleermuiswandeling met Wildernis als startpunt. Samen met Koen gaan we op zoek naar zo veel mogelijk soorten vleermuizen met behulp van een ‘batdetector’. Dit apparaatje zet het ultrasone echolocatiegeluid van de vleermuizen om in een hoorbaar signaal. Koen zal vol aanstekelijk enthousiasme vertellen over vleermuizen en hun rol in de stadse natuur. Zo zijn veel soorten voor hun verblijfplaatsen afhankelijk van gebouwen en herbergen veel huizen vleermuizen zonder dat de menselijke bewoners het weten.
Create a Macramé wall hanger with Mini Swells
The Macramé wall hanger; perfect for any bohemian interior! Make an impressive macramé pendant on the wall under the guidance of macramé queen Alejandra of Mini Swells.
Make your own seedbombs
Yes, we’re going to bomb! This Saturday morning you can make free “seed bombs” at Wildernis from 11.00 till 12.00! With these organic seed bombs you’ll quickly transform empty spots (or blast your backyard) into a small pollinators’ paradise for butterflies and bees. Wildernis colleague Isabelle explains how to make your own ammunition. Everyone gets to make 4 bombs, and you’ll take them “home” in an egg carton ..
How to keep your plants alive (English spoken)
Do you dream of an urban jungle in your house, but you don’t know where to start? During this English spoken workshop you’ll learn how to take care of your plants. Iris – Mama Botanica – will teach you what makes your plants happy. There will be time to ask questions and discuss your urgent plant problems. After the workshop you get a handy e-book, just in case you need to have another peak.
Illustrate plants with watercolor
Flowers and plants inspire many artists and illustrators including Aafke en Angela van Paper Brush. Under the guidance of Aafke and Angela you’ll start a series of plant illustrations with watercolor. Be inspired by all the greens in Wildernis. The use of materials like watercolor, brushes and paper are included.
Grow your own micro-vegetables
Everyone can grow sprouts and micro vegetables! You do not need green fingers or even a garden or balcony. It can be done in any house, even in winter. Especially in the coldest months it has many advantages, when there are few local, fresh vegetables. Young plants and sprouted seeds are full of nutrients and give your body a much needed boost.
Annelies and Ann are green-finger professionals from Cityplot. They teach you how easy, tasty and healthy it is to grow your own micro-vegetables. You’ll go home with everything you need to start a miniature garden.
Create a Macramé wall hanger with Emily Katz
Emily Katz is ‘queen’ of the macrame and an Instagram phenomenon. Emily travels the world to teach as many people as possible about this knotting art. Her goal is to not only share her love for this craft, but also to inspire people to be creative.
Emily was named in the LA Times, London Daily Mail, Buzzfeed, Nylon Magazine, Ku: nel Magazine, Popeye Magazine, Elle Japan, Elle NL and Elle France to name a few. The macrame workshop with Emily at Wildernis is a great opportunity!
Composting in the city.
By composting at home, you reduce your waste flow, and can produce compost of the best quality with which to pamper your plants. Ireen Laarakker from Balkonton.nl joins us and explains how city composting works, using a wormerbak (see picture), Perfect for people with limited space, or even without a garden, the worm method does not stink, is small, and works indoors. Do you want to know how simple it is and whether composting is something for you? Come to listen or ask questions.
‘Roof gardening’ by Rooflife
Gardening on a roof is profession in and of itself. You’ll have to take into account strong winds, hours of burning sun and you have real soil to work with. So you’ll have to adjust your layout, structure and plant choice accordingly.
The professionals at Rooflife will explain the basics of a rooftop garden during this workshop: how do you ensure you’ll be able to enjoy your piece of green pie in the sky?
‘Shadow gardening’ by Toos Tuin
Do you have a balcony, roof terrace or city garden with little or no sun? Do you think that little can grow or even flourish there? Well be ready to be surprised! With the right knowledge you can turn that shady spot into a green paradise. In this workshop, gardener Toos Tuin teaches you how to make your dark outdoor space into a real fine green place. You’ll learn about different types of shade, plant choice, pests, how to make a planting schedule and much more.
‘Which plants where?’ – How to plant your urban garden by Tjalf Vermij
Perennials, annuals, climbers, bulbs, shrubs .. The planting of a (façade) garden (tje) has so many possibilities, you can not see the forest ’cause of the flowers. City gardener Tjalf Vermij will explore the possibilities with you and give you a basis to build upon. Which plants are evergreen? Shadow friendly? Or “hufterproof”? You can, of course, ask all your questions. And you’ll go home with a plenty of idead and inspiration for your own piece of urban greenery.
‘Design a small edible garden or balcony with perennials’ by Madelon Oostwoud
In this workshop you will design a layout for your garden or balcony using edible plants, herbs, fruit and vegetables. You do this based on the size, location (how much sunlight?) and your plant preference – and with an eye on what to harvest later.
The unique thing about this workshop is that you’ll only work with perennials – you do not grow vegetables.
Afterwards you’ll have an efficient and practical garden or balcony design and plant list, and a wealth of useful information and tips.
The book ‘A small edible garden with perennials’ (see photo on the left) is included in the workshop price.
The unique thing about this workshop is that you’ll only work with perennials – you do not grow vegetables.
Afterwards you’ll have an efficient and practical garden or balcony design and plant list, and a wealth of useful information and tips.
The book ‘A small edible garden with perennials’ (see photo on the left) is included in the workshop price.
‘Ikebana flower arrangement’ by Bloemen van Haas
Simplicity, balance and lines. Three important things when making an Ikebana. Ikebana means ‘living flowers’. Hanna and Sara (Bloemen van HAAS) became fascinated by this special floral art, and want to introduce you to their new passion.
Using various composition techniques you will make your own Ikebana during this workshop – while enjoying a refreshing spring lemonade and a snack.
In a bowl with a Kenzan (Japanese pin cushion) you learn to get flowers in balance and arrange them in line shapes. The flowers of the season, in beautiful spring colors, play an important role in making this Ikebana.
Beasts in Amsterdam’: Lecture by urban ecologist Anneke Blokker
Urban designer Anneke Blokker and her colleagues Geert Timmermans, Remco Daalder and Auke Brouwer wrote the book Amsterdam Beasts. In this Wildernis lecture she’ll expand on this wonderful book.
The Animal Guide explains where all animals are in Amsterdam – and there are more than you’d think! Once you know where you need to search, and what to look for, you’ll discover the unseen universe of urban animals.
Do you find a stool with a kind of screw shape on top? Then there was definitely a fox by. Is the first day of spring coming up? Then you can be sure that the grass snake emerges from its wintery hiding place. And when those sunny days continue, you can often see the red-eared turtle sunbathing on a tree trunk in the water. You don’t have to travel far to go on a safari. And for fast: the Amsterdam peregrine falcon can reach 340 km/h and is the fastest animal on earth!