He found plenty of inspiration on Pinterest. Not just one birdhouse, but maybe a hundred. “And then I started building. I have already made six.”
A number of the examples are displayed in André’s workshop. They are impressive buildings, works of art made with an eye for detail.
From road builder to ‘birdhouse artist’
His creations are detailed mini-worlds, often with a wink. He proudly lifts one of his bird villas. “Look, here’s a male climbing up the drainpipe, towards a female behind the window. He hopes she winks back,” André laughs. “I also gave him flowers.”
Bird villas with guarantee
His working materials vary from Douglas fir wood to bankirai and old decking wood. André jokes: “I give a fifty-year warranty on my birdhouses.”
He also thinks about practical matters: each house has a rear hatch so that it is easy to clean. “The birds think it’s wonderful,” he says proudly.
Who helps André with his bandsaw
Yet André runs into one problem: the band saw. “I bought one via Marktplaats, but I have already sawn it to pieces twice.” He is therefore looking for an experienced woodworker who is willing to teach him the tricks of the trade — preferably near Nieuw-Vennep or Hoofddorp.
“I know a lot, but I’m not a carpenter,” says André. “And I would like to make my work even better. Maybe one day it will be so good that Soestdijk Palace will want one!”
If you are a handy wood craftsman in Haarlemmermeer, please contact André via the website NH Helpt.nl