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Course programme

Boekbindcentrum Echten is an inspiring and welcoming place dedicated to the craft of bookbinding.
The centre has a spacious, fully equipped bookbinding workshop with an extensive range of machines, tools and materials. The workspace is ideally suited for workshops and courses and can accommodate up to twelve participants.
In addition to our own programme of courses and workshops, we organise masterclasses taught by experienced guest instructors from abroad.

We hope to welcome you to Boekbindcentrum Echten soon for a workshop or course.

Travelling by public transport? You can make use of our pick-up service from Hoogeveen railway station.

Would you like to combine your workshop or course with a weekend in Drenthe? Boekbindcentrum Echten has a comfortable apartment available for rent.

You can register for the relevant workshop or course at the bottom of this page.

Bookbinding course for beginners starts Saturday, August 29, 2026


During this course, you will learn the basic concepts of bookbinding.
You will make a straight-spine binding, a round-spine binding, and a perfect binding.
In the final lesson, we will also practice starch marbling.

The course lasts 4 consecutive Saturdays from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 320,- including materials, use of tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Book Repair Workshop Saturday, October 3, 2026


For this course, it is important that you already have some experience with bookbinding, such as the beginner's course.

During this workshop, you will learn how to repair a number of common book damages yourself.
These include a broken or loose spine, and torn or loose pages.
You may bring your own books that need repairing.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 99,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Workshop Secret Belgian Binding Saturday, October 17, 2026



The Secret Belgian Binding (also known as the Criss-Cross Binding) features a decorative thread pattern that crosses back and forth between the spine and the two covers.

The spine and covers are connected entirely by sewing, without the use of adhesive.
This binding allows the book to open completely flat, making it ideal for use as a sketchbook, journal, or notebook.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 99,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Workshop printing Saturday, October 31, 2026


During this workshop, you will learn a variety of book finishing and titling techniques.

You will be introduced to the use of finishing fillets and rolls, a type holder, and a foil stamping press.
Throughout the workshop, you will practice both blind stamping and foil stamping to create professional-looking titles and decorative impressions on book covers.

The workshop runs from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
The fee is € 55,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Workshop paring leather Saturday, December 5, 2026


During this workshop, you will learn several techniques for paring leather using a leather paring knife, a paring chisel, and the Schärf-Fix 2000.

You will also learn how to sharpen and maintain a leather paring knife. Participants are welcome to bring their own knife or chisel.

The workshop runs from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
The fee is € 55,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.



Workshop clamshell box with a hinged lid Saturday, December 12, 2026

During this workshop, you will learn how to make and cover a simple clamshell box with a hinged lid.

The techniques you learn can be applied to many other types of boxes and protective enclosures for books and other objects.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 99,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Workshop Keith Smith's 1-, 2- and 3-Section Bindings Saturday, December 19, 2026


During this workshop, you will make a variety of bindings using one, two, and three sections.

These are adhesive-free binding structures, held together entirely by sewing.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 99,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Course Traditional Binding Structures – German and French Binding starts Saturday, January 9, 2027


This course is intended for participants who already have experience in bookbinding, for example by having completed a beginner's course.

You will learn to apply traditional bookbinding techniques, including sewing headbands, paring leather, backing the spine, and decorating the book cover with blind and foil stamping.
During the course, you will make a German binding in half leather and a French binding in full leather.

The course lasts 5 consecutive Saturdays from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 425,- including materials, use of tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Workshop Japanese binding 2.0 Saturday, February 13, 2027

During this workshop, you will first practice a variety of decorative sewing patterns on sample strips.
You will then choose your favorite stitch to bind a stylish notebook.

For the cover, we use Denimized, a unique and sustainable paper made from recycled denim fibres.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 99,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Workshop Caterpillar Stitch Binding Saturday, March 13, 2027

The Caterpillar Stitch is a decorative adhesive-free binding in which the exposed thread on the spine forms a pattern resembling a caterpillar.
The result is a beautifully handcrafted book that opens completely flat.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 99,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Workshop Working with Leather Saturday, April 3, 2027


During this workshop, you will be introduced to the techniques involved in using leather for bookbinding.
You will learn about the properties of different types of leather, how to pare leather, how to create false raised bands on the spine, and how to adhere leather correctly.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 110,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Workshop Bambalina Saturday, May 1, 2027


The Bambalina binding, designed by Susana Domínguez Martín, is a bookbinding structure related to the limp binding.
With this binding method, the spine of the text block requires only minimal preparation, allowing the book to open smoothly while giving the structure its distinctive character.
The Bambalina is also known as a sliding-spine binding. This name refers to the way the spine moves subtly when the book is opened, sliding into the boards.
The spine covering is made from thin copper.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 117,50 including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Workshop Paper in motion Saturday, May 22, 2027


Discover how paper comes to life! During this workshop you will create three fascinating paper constructions: a Waterfall Book, the Endless Carousel, and a Presentation Book.
Each construction has its own unique movement. The Waterfall Book allows the pages to cascade one by one, the Endless Carousel continually transforms its shape, and the Presentation Book reveals a new image with every turn.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 117,50 including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Workshop Embroidery Stitch Binding Saturday, June 5, 2027


During this workshop, inspired by the work of Thai bookbinder Taotuatoe, you will make a book using a distinctive decorative sewing technique.
The exposed threads form a geometric pattern on the spine, giving the book its characteristic appearance.
For the cover, we will use Zaansch bord, a traditional Dutch decorative paperboard.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 99,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Marbling Workshop Saturday, June 19, 2027


During the workshop, the materials needed for marbling will be explained, and
you will get to work yourself creating comb and pebble marbles on Carragheen (Irish moss) using acrylic paint.
Furthermore, attention will also be paid to marbling a book edge.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 140,- including the use of materials and tools, coffee/tea, and an extensive lunch.


Marbling Workshop 2.0 Sunday, June 20, 2027

This workshop is intended for participants who have previously attended our standard marbling workshop.
During this workshop, we will explore the various marbling techniques in greater depth.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 140,- including the use of materials and tools, coffee/tea, and an extensive lunch.


Workshop Slip-in Cover Saturday, July 3, 2027


During this workshop, you will make a reusable slip-in cover into which a separate book block can be inserted.
The book block is not glued to the cover, so it can easily be removed or replaced.
For the cover, we will use untreated suede.

The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM.
The fee is € 110,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea, and soup.


Creative Paper Week – From Fibre & Colour to Book and Box Monday 12 July to Friday 16 July 2027


The name says it all: five days of intensive work, experimenting, and above all, making lots of things.
The first two days are dedicated to paper marbling on carrageenan.
You will learn how to prepare the marbling bath, mix colours, and create a variety of patterns, resulting in a beautiful collection of unique marbled papers.
During the next two days, you will learn hand papermaking, experimenting with fibres, colours, textures, and the many possibilities of handmade paper.
On the final day, everything comes together: using the papers you have marbled and made yourself, you will create books and boxes.

The workshop days run from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The fee is € 495,- including materials, use of various tools, coffee/tea and lunch.
Maximum 6 participants.