GWA Grafische Werkplaats Amsterdam

What GWA Grafische Werkplaats Amsterdam does

GWA Grafische Werkplaats Amsterdam is a Dutch nonprofit foundation (Stichting) operating a traditional graphic printing workshop and educational facility out of the NDSM Shipbuilding Shed in Amsterdam North. Founded in 2004 by Wiek Molin and Martin Veltman and holding Cultural ANBI status, GWA teaches artisanal printing techniques — letterpress typesetting, linocut, woodcut, etching (including an in-house acid-free electrolytic method), bookbinding, screen printing, and box making — on a collection of historic cylinder presses (VanderCook, Korrex, Asbern) and an extensive letter collection that includes rare NovoTypo BIXA chromatic wooden letters and the Tropenmuseum-commissioned Kanat Arabic wooden letter. The organization is staffed by a small core team of approximately 11, supplemented by dozens of volunteers and a bench of specialist teachers, and runs a Master Seeks Apprentice program that trains three new printers per year.

The business model is diversified across five revenue streams: structured multi-week courses (€350–€562.50 per participant), single-day and weekend workshops (€75–€375), children's programs and family workshops, school programs for Dutch PO, VO and MBO/HBO/WO students (€17.50–€35 per student, accepting Cultuurkaart), corporate team-building events (€75–€150 per person, tax-deductible under Dutch rules), and retail products including posters, notebooks, bespoke birth cards and an annual Typographic Planner. Distribution is primarily on-site at the NDSM workshop, complemented by an e-commerce shop, the quarterly NDSM Print Market, and institutional listings via Andersom.Amsterdam. Marketing is dominated by organic social (Instagram @gwamsterdam, Facebook, LinkedIn) and word-of-mouth through the volunteer and alumni community. Strategic partnerships with NovoTypo, Tropenmuseum, Eye Filmmuseum, Toneelbibliotheek and Hatch Show Print (Nashville) underpin collaborative programming under the GWA & Inkt series, while the Adopt-a-Press multi-tier sponsorship scheme (€1,500–€5,000) formalizes institutional support alongside sponsors Hexagon, ASF and KVGO.

Name

GWA Grafische Werkplaats Amsterdam

Legal name

Foundation GWA Graphic Workshop Amsterdam

Website

https://grafischewerkplaatsamsterdam.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GWA Grafische Werkplaats Amsterdam is a nonprofit foundation running a traditional graphic printing workshop in Amsterdam's NDSM terrain, teaching letterpress, etching, linocut, woodcut and bookbinding to adults, children, schools, design students and corporate teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Education & Printmaking Workshops

NAICS

Stationery Product Manufacturing (322230), Stationery Product Manufacturing (32223), Printing (32311), Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111)

SIC

Blankbooks, Looseleaf Binders & Bookbindg & Relatd Work (2780), Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services (IMALAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stationery & Office Paper Products (notebooks, pads, forms) (IMAMAHAG), Folding Carton & Paperboard Packaging Printing (IMALAKAH), Art & Drafting Supplies Retail (CRALABAG)

Keywords

• Letterpress printing workshops
• Traditional graphic techniques
• Bookbinding courses
• Linocut relief printing
• Intaglio etching courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Educational Courses and Workshops: Revenue from structured courses (evening courses, weekend workshops, day workshops) teaching graphic techniques to adults, children, students, and organizations. Pricing ranges from €75 for intro workshops to €562.50 for comprehensive courses.
2. Print Products and Merchandise: Sale of printed products including posters (€10-120), notebooks (€12.50-125), birth cards, typographic agendas, and merchandise. Products created in the workshop by GWA makers and collaborating artists.
3. Corporate and Group Events: Team building workshops for companies ranging from €75-150 per person for 2-3 hour sessions, with minimum 6 and maximum 30 participants. Includes customization for specific industry needs.
4. Gift Certificates: Gift vouchers for courses, workshops, or monetary value that can be redeemed on the website for printing experiences.
5. Custom Birth Card Printing: Bespoke letterpress birth announcements printed with wooden letters and linocuts/woodcuts, minimum 100 cards at €5.50 per card.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GWA Grafische Werkplaats Amsterdam is a non-profit foundation operating a hands-on graphic workshop that teaches traditional artisanal printing techniques through structured courses, multi-day workshops, school programs, and corporate team-building events. Core offerings span letterpress typesetting, linocut, woodcut, intaglio etching, bookbinding, and boxmaking, delivered using historic VanderCook, Korrex, and Asbern cylinder presses alongside proprietary wooden letter systems. The workshop also produces and sells handmade letterpress products including posters, the annual Typographic Agenda, notebooks, and bespoke birth announcement cards.

Product overview

GWA Grafische Werkplaats Amsterdam is a traditional graphic workshop and educational facility offering courses and workshops in artisanal printing techniques. The portfolio consists of core courses in graphic techniques (Introduction to Graphic Techniques as the foundational course), specialized courses (Typesetting, Linocut, Woodcut, Etching, Bookbinding, Boxmaking), intensive workshops (GWA Lab, Summer School, Werkman workshops), and group/educational programs (children's workshops, school programs, corporate events, family workshops). The workshop also retails handmade products including posters, notebooks, birth cards, and the Typographic Agenda. All offerings center on traditional printing techniques including letterpress, relief printing, intaglio/etching, and bookbinding using historic equipment like VanderCook, Korrex, and Asbern cylinder presses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Introductie Grafische Technieken (Introduction to Graphic Techniques)
• Cursus Boekbinden (Bookbinding Course)
• Cursus Linoleumsnede (Linocut Course)
• Cursus Houtsnede (Woodcut Course)
• Cursus Etsen (Etching Course)
• Cursus Letterzetten (Typesetting Course)
• Cursus Kartonnage (Boxmaking Course)
• GWA Lab
• Summerschool Linoleumsnede (Summer School Linocut)
• Workshop Introductie tot Letterzetten (Introduction to Typesetting Workshop)
• Workshop Introductie tot Linoleumsnede (Linoleum Cutting Intro Workshop)
• Werken als Werkman (Working as a Workman)
• Weekendworkshop Lino / Letter (Weekend Lino & Letter)
• Drukklup Junior / Printup Junior
• Educatie / PO (Primary Education Program)
• Educatie / VO (Secondary Education Program)
• Educatie / MBO, HBO, WO (Vocational & Higher Education Program)
• Bedrijfsuitjes / Company Workshops
• Op Maat / Made to Measure Workshops
• Familieworkshop (Family Workshop)
• Shop / Etalage (Letterpress Products Shop)
• Typografische Agenda 2026 (Typographic Planner 2026)
• Geboortekaartjes (Custom Birth Announcement Cards)
• Kadobon (Gift Certificate)

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants create finished products to take home - books, posters, prints, cards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• TropenmuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Commissioned GWA to create Arabic greeting cards designed by Lara Captan. Nine cards with greetings in Arabic, English, and Dutch, using polymeer calligraphy. Resulted in the Kanat Arabic wooden letter development.
• NovoTypo (Mark van Wageningen)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Collaboration to create the BIXA chromatic wooden letter system - five different letter forms that combine for multi-color text images. Mark van Wageningen designed and created the letters in collaboration with GWA. This is a flagship collaboration producing unique typographic resources.
• Lara CaptanflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerArabic type designer who collaborated with GWA to develop the Kanat Arabic wooden letter as part of the 3D&Inkt project, in collaboration with NovoTypo.
• Eye FilmmuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm & Inkt collaboration series where GWA creates letterpress posters for classic films. Artists including Mariano Galan (Space Oddity), Franko Rosas (Pulp Fiction), Alette de Roos (Groundhog Day) have created film posters.
• ToneelbibliotheekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater & Inkt project - collaborative printing projects with theater documentation and performance-related content.
• Claire van der Mee and Lauren Esquires (NDSM Print)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerInitiated the NDSM PRINT market - a printers market at GWA featuring only handmade printing. Held quarterly, combining flea market visitors with print enthusiasts.
• Vlieger (Paper Specialty Shop)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmsterdam paper specialty shop sells decorative papers designed and screen-printed by Karin and Saskia Jansen, suitable for lining boxes or books.
• Studio De Kunstzee (Mieke Mens)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScreen printing studio that produced some poster editions for GWA guest designer lectures, such as Max Kisman's poster.
• Andersom.AmsterdamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMunicipality of Amsterdam's new offer site for cultural activities lists GWA's educational offerings for schools.
• Hatch Show Print Shop (Nashville)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamous letterpress print shop where Irian Schuur interned, representing international connection to the traditional printing craft community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Werkplaats Typografie: Arnhem-based Dutch design school offering a two-year master's program in typography with hands-on practice, connected to Dutch design culture. Comparable as a Dutch-language typographic education institution, though positioned as a degree-granting school rather than a community workshop.

Direct peers

• St Bride Foundation: London-based foundation dedicated to the history and craft of printing, offering workshops and education in letterpress, bookbinding, and typography. Directly comparable to GWA as a nonprofit printing heritage workshop combining education, exhibits, and community programming.
• Center for Book Arts: New York nonprofit offering workshops and courses in letterpress printing, bookbinding, and typographic design, with exhibitions and a community print shop. Closely matches GWA's combination of craft education, custom printing services, and cultural-institution mission.
• Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum: Two Rivers, Wisconsin museum and workshop dedicated to wood type and letterpress printing, hosting residencies, workshops, and printing events. Comparable as a working heritage site for letterpress craft education and production.
• Hatch Show Print: Iconic Nashville letterpress poster shop producing concert and event posters using historic wood type and cylinder presses; offers tours and workshops. GWA's teacher Irian Schuur interned there, and Hatch is a comparable letterpress poster-production and education venue.
• International Printing Museum: Carson, California museum housing historic printing presses and offering hands-on printing demonstrations and workshops. Comparable to GWA as a printing heritage facility providing education and public access to letterpress equipment.
• Plantin-Moretus Museum: UNESCO-listed Antwerp museum and workshop preserving the historic Officina Plantiniana printing house, including original presses and type. Closely comparable as a European printing-heritage site combining museum, workshop preservation, and demonstration printing.
• Bowne & Co. Stationers: Operating letterpress print shop within the South Street Seaport Museum in NYC, producing custom stationery and offering public printing demonstrations and workshops. Directly comparable operating model: working letterpress shop embedded in a cultural-heritage setting.

Broad incumbents

• Penland School of Craft: North Carolina craft education institution offering intensive multi-week workshops across book arts, letterpress, and printmaking, taught by visiting artists. Comparable in workshop-based craft-education model and tuition structure, but broader in disciplines covered.
• Haystack Mountain School of Crafts: Deer Isle, Maine craft school offering multi-week workshops including book arts and printmaking. Comparable as a tuition-funded craft education institution with workshop-style programs, though with a broader craft focus than GWA's graphic-printing specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/grafischewerkplaats.amsterdam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gwa-grafische-werkplaats-amsterdam
• Instagraminstagram.com/gwamsterdam

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GWA Grafische Werkplaats Amsterdam