Birdhouses, birdhouses and more birdhouses. 67-year-old Willem van der Ploeg from Emmer-Compascuum has his house and garden full of bird villas. And his work does not go unnoticed, as his creations are sought after throughout the country.
From wall panels to old skirting boards and from discarded floors to discarded cupboards. Everything Willem can find is reused for his birdhouses. “I made this one in 1999 from all kinds of old junk. It does discolour a bit, but it is still fantastically beautiful,” he says proudly about his very first birdhouse.
Willem is retired and enjoys himself in the winter months making birdhouses. He has now made more than thirty.
The passion for birdhouses all started with a holiday in Austria. “I saw a house like that there and thought: I’ll try to make a house like that at home.”
A new hobby was born and he now produces bird villas in all shapes and sizes. From an FC Emmen birdhouse to one in the theme of RTV Drenthe: nothing is too crazy for Willem.
More and more people are now appreciating Willem’s creations and he receives requests from all over the Netherlands. “I recently received a request from Oud-Beijerland and these two are still going to Apeldoorn.”
So Willem is far from finished and he has an idea about what the birds themselves think of it. “I always say the birds live above a snack bar!”