About us
Het Strijkershuis was founded in 1985 by Hendrik Woldring and his wife Barbara. Hendrik (Hein) Woldring was trained as a violin maker in Newark England, where he also met his wife Barbara.
After moving to Groningen and with an expanding clientele, they set up het Strijkershuis.
At first at home, and later at it’s current location at the Jozef Israëlsplein 6.
After building up a rental business, it became necessary to employ various students, including Hein and Barbara’s children. Eldest son Ben, daughter Anna, and youngest son Ollie have all worked at het Strijkershuis, learning both the various skills required for maintaining and repairing stringed instruments, as well as building instruments of their own.
Since 2021 Hein and Barbara have formally retired from the business, to make room for Anna and Ollie to take over het Strijkershuis. Hein still actively makes new instruments, and both he and Barbara continue to guide Anna and Ollie in continuing the business and maintaining the high quality that our customers expect.
Hein
Hendrik Woldring was born in Muiderberg in 1952.
He was trained as a violin maker in Newark from 1974 to 1977 and founded het Strijkershuis in 1985 together with his wife Barbara.
He is a member of the Nederlandse Groep van Viool- en Strijkstokkenmakers (NGV) and has built many instruments, including violins, violas, cellos and some baroque instruments.
He has an extensive knowledge of repairing, restoring and acoustically adjusting stringed instruments.
Since 2021 Hein exclusively works at his workshop at home, building new instruments.
Hein
Hendrik Woldring was born in Muiderberg in 1952.
He was trained as a violin maker in Newark from 1974 to 1977 and founded het Strijkershuis in 1985 together with his wife Barbara.
He is a member of the Nederlandse Groep van Viool- en Strijkstokkenmakers (NGV) and has built many instruments, including violins, violas, cellos and some baroque instruments.
He has an extensive knowledge of repairing, restoring and acoustically adjusting stringed instruments.
Since 2021 Hein exclusively works at his workshop at home, building new instruments.
Barbara
Barbara was born in London in 1952 and met Hein during his training as a violin maker in Newark.
After Hein’s graduation, they moved to the Netherlands and got married.
She also assisted Hein in building up the business, focusing on administrative tasks, as well the boatload of customer relations. After the business expanded, she quickly became instrumental and soon became the main vocal point to customers.
Since 2021 she has formally retired to hand over the business to the next generation.
Anna
She studied at Minerva Academy of Arts and has worked for het Strijkershuis since 2008, being educated in instrument making, repairs and maintenance of stringed instruments.
Initially her main task was bow rehairs and maintenance, however, after Hein and Barbara’s retirement, she has taken over most of Barbara’s tasks.
She now is responsible for all customer contact and most administrative tasks, while still doing most work on bows.
Anna
She studied at Minerva Academy of Arts and has worked for het Strijkershuis since 2008, being educated in instrument making, repairs and maintenance of stringed instruments.
Initially her main task was bow rehairs and maintenance, however, after Hein and Barbara’s retirement, she has taken over most of Barbara’s tasks.
She now is responsible for all customer contact and most administrative tasks, while still doing most work on bows.
Ollie
He has worked at Het Strijkershuis since 2013, initially working at digitalizing the administration, but also being trained by Hein in instrument building, repairs, and maintenance. He was quickly put in charge of maintaining our collection of rental instruments but has gradually taken over more and more of Hein’s work regarding repairs, restoration and acoustic adjustments. Since 2021 he is responsible for nearly all technical work on instruments for customers, as well as maintaining the vast collection of instruments for sale and for rental.
