De Huisjes: from Haarlem illustrations to gifts with a story of their own

From drawing to tangible gift

It all started with a drawing of Haarlem City Hall. Renske Horn, an illustrator, posted her work on social media and the response was overwhelming. People were enthusiastic about her illustrations of buildings and cityscapes. This is how Haarlemse Huisjes came about, a small webshop selling mainly cards and posters of the city.

Through Eva (who already knew her), we – Max, Edwin and Melanie – first got in touch with Renske. We clicked immediately. By combining our experience in illustration, IT solutions, graphic design and copywriting, we formed a unique team. And that led to a fruitful collaboration. We wanted to grow this fun little business together, and that is how De Huisjes was born.

Craftsmanship and innovation: how we work

What started as a small expansion quickly grew into something special. The first cards and posters were already great, but we wanted to create more unique and tangible products. Something people could truly give as a gift. Our first idea was the bamboo keychains featuring a map of Haarlem. Soon, other cities followed, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Zwolle.

Our first workshop was actually the archive room of the studio. Whenever large sheets needed to be cut, we simply worked outside in the parking lot. Max and Edwin covered in dust, Melanie in the smoke from the laser machine, and together with Renske we quickly packed everything up and took it to the post office. Or all of us enthusiastically braving the cold at the Haarlem Christmas market to introduce our new products. It was a fantastic time.

From the first delicate keychains to sturdy serving and cutting boards: every step was a learning experience. Max came up with a clever little table for routing the edges of the serving boards, and the three of us repeatedly perfected the settings of the laser machine. The entire team was constantly coming up with new gift ideas, and every product became stronger, more beautiful and easier to reproduce.

Gifts with a personal story

The personal element was a breakthrough. Engravings with names, dates or personal messages suddenly turned a nice product into a thoughtful gift. And it wasn't just individuals who were enthusiastic; companies, tourist information offices and museums also found their way to De Huisjes for corporate gifts. But also for local gifts, retirement gifts, sustainable gifts, thank-you gifts and team gifts.

Our popularity quickly grew nationwide. Our products found their way to the shop at the lighthouse on Texel, the Teylers Museum in Haarlem and the Euromast in Rotterdam. They weren't just gifts. They were stories, memories and pieces of local pride.

What makes De Huisjes so special

What makes all of this special is that we still have our very first Haarlem keychain. They hang on our keyrings and remind us how it all started. Just like the prototypes of the serving and cheese boards in our kitchens and the first posters hanging in our office. It is simply incredibly fun to make gifts.

At De Huisjes, we like to show that a good gift is not just a product. It is something made with care and craftsmanship, with a story behind it. That is exactly what drives us. Creating gifts that stay with their recipients, both literally and figuratively.

Would you like a gift with your own story?

Whether you're looking for a unique anniversary gift for a colleague or loved one, want a corporate gift featuring your logo, or simply want to learn more about our process; we'd love to hear from you. Together, we can create a fitting gift that puts your city in the spotlight.

• View all our products in the webshop
• Let us create a custom corporate gift
• Contact us about custom work (fill in the contact form next to this.)
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