WHERE CLAY MEETS LIGHT

Dijkstra Friese Kleiwarenfabriek × YourSenses

Some materials deserve more than a second life. They deserve a new legacy.

In Sneek, in the heart of Friesland, Dijkstra Friese Kleiwarenfabriek has been creating authentic ceramic products since 1898. Generations of knowledge, craftsmanship and experimentation come together inside this remarkable factory. Traditional techniques are preserved while new possibilities in ceramics, glazing and architectural applications continue to be explored.

This shared respect for tradition and innovation forms the foundation of a special collaboration with YourSenses.

EXCLUSIVE MATERIALS, NEW PURPOSE

During a visit to the factory, Alain van Dijk and Matthijs Wateler discovered an extraordinary collection of ceramic remnants: experimental pieces, colour variations, test tiles and unique forms carrying the visible traces of the production process.

These are not ordinary leftovers. Each piece represents a moment in the history of the factory—shaped by Frisian clay, fire, glaze and human craftsmanship.

Alain van Dijk and Matthijs Wateler have been granted the exclusive right to use these ceramic remnants in the creation of lamps, light objects and artworks.

The available material is finite. This means every creation will be naturally limited, individually composed and impossible to reproduce in exactly the same way.

FROM INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE TO COLLECTIBLE DESIGN

Within YourSenses, the ceramic pieces are reimagined through light, geometry and spatial composition. Warm light reveals differences in colour, texture and glaze that normally remain hidden. Seams become lines of light. Shadows create depth. Separate ceramic elements begin to form one visual object.

The first concepts explore compositions in which three ceramic tiles appear to merge into an asymmetrical cube. Subtle illumination emerges from between the surfaces and from behind the object, while soft light across the front reveals the individual character of each ceramic plane.

Every object is designed around the material itself. Its imperfections are not concealed—they become part of its identity.

DESIGNED BY ALAIN VAN DIJK AND MATTHIJS WATELER

The collaboration brings together two complementary disciplines.

Matthijs Wateler approaches the material through proportion, form, composition and architectural balance. Alain van Dijk adds light, technology and the ability to transform static materials into sensory experiences.

Together, they create objects that connect Dutch craftsmanship with contemporary lighting design and art.

Each work will be documented and, where applicable, issued as a numbered or unique edition. The origin of the ceramic material remains an essential part of every object’s story.

PRESERVING THE PAST. DESIGNING THE FUTURE.

This collaboration is not simply about reusing materials. It is about preserving craftsmanship by giving authentic ceramic remnants a meaningful new destination.

Clay becomes structure.
Glaze becomes colour.
Light reveals history.

A new collection is taking shape—rooted in Friesland, shaped by craftsmanship and brought to life by YourSenses.

Dijkstra Friese Kleiwarenfabriek × YourSenses
Where old meets new. Where clay meets light.