That wool is a fine, warm, natural product, we already wrote about that. If you then also choose Dutch wool, you can eliminate the CO2 emissions for transporting the wool, which quite often comes from far away. That again makes a difference! Dutch wool, after being considered a residual or waste product for a while, seems to be making a cautious comeback. Yes! We found out where you can find real Dutch wool. Yarns, clothes, rugs and accessories and even wool master classes (yes, really!): enter the world of Dutch wool.
Check out these Dutch wool clothing brands
Full of fresh courage, we start our research. After all, we have gathered quite a list of sustainable wool brands, including quite a few nice Dutch fashion brands. But what turns out? Although these brands buy their wool responsibly, they usually do not buy from the Dutch sheep and their farmers. So in terms of Dutch wool clothing: no long woolly story, just a modest list.
- The Knitwit Stable in Baambrugge is a real wool farm with a knitting studio. You can buy a jumper or cardigan there, which is made only after you order it, from wool from their own sheep, goats (hello soft merino wool!) or alpacas. So it takes a while for your jumper to arrive (think a week or two), but it is, as they say themselves, worth the wait.
- The Joe Merino brand has a Dutch cousin: Jan. The men's collection of Jan Merino is made of 80% Dutch sheep wool, blended with 20% Dutch alpaca wool, for extra softness. Surprising detail: they collaborate with, yes, The Knitwit Stable.
- The sheep's circle in the Netherlands turns out to be an our-own world, as the next tip, this fine turtleneck scarves from Sukha, are also a collaboration with the sheep from The Knitwit Stable. Our conclusion: so those sheep apparently give a lot of white wool....
- At Ecotex, they make this beautiful (men's) jacket of 100% wool from Kempen heath sheep, which spend much of the year grazing on the heathland of National Park De Meinweg near Roermond. These sheep play an important role in nature management by keeping the heath open in a natural way. As well as being warm and breathable, the jacket is dyed with vegetable indigo. This gives it a beautiful deep blue hue, all natural and biodegradable.
- You can buy lovely warm socks at Skéépe, made from wool from Texel sheep. The sheep graze year-round on the island and produce a firm, insulating wool that is perfect for comfortable socks.
You don't often come across clothes made from Dutch wool, yet we found some great brands such as a plaid from Yumeko, cardigans from The Knitwit Stable and socks made from Texel sheep from Skéépe. With all these examples, the wool comes from sheep that can live in freedom happy all year round.
Tip: Take good care of your wool = long pleasure from your wool
Do you have a woollen jumper or cardigan? Then of course you want to keep it good for as long as possible. Simply airing it outside when your jumper needs a freshening up is often enough. Do you need to wash it anyway? Then do it in a machine-wool wash and never (we repeat: never! Thank us later...) in the dryer, but just let it dry lying down. On a clean towel, on a clothes rack for example.
Repair your woollens yourself, now that's sustainable
Hole in your favo woollen cardigan? Or a pull in your woollen jumper or scarf? Just fix it yourself. So your woollens will last even longer. Order the Wimpy Kit by Foekje Fleur: it contains everything you need to care for and repair your woollen socks and garments: wool, needles and combs. Plus very nice, clear instructions: handy!
Or knit it yourself from Dutch wool
After reading about Dutch woollies, you suddenly feel like knitting yourself? We won't stop you, mind you! Grab your knitting pins and let's go!
- At Ecotex you can buy wool from the Kempen heath sheep. Herds of these sheep graze in National Park De Meinweg near Roermond, Limburg. The wool (from this almost three-country point) is washed in Belgium and then spun just across the border, in Germany.
- Sheep's wool from the Troll wool shop in Driebergen comes from Dutch wool, sourced from the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and from Lutjebroek. The wool is also hand-dyed by Atelier Sarah Jane from Doorn. That sounds almost fairytale-like, doesn't it?
- Green Heart-wool comes from Texelaars, sheep that graze in - the name says it all - the Green Heart.
- Polder wire is wool from North Holland, Heerhugowaard, to be precise. It is spun in Friesland and even the wrapper is natural: namely from roadside grass.
- Wool from Texel sheep, in all kinds of natural wool shades, is for sale at Renske van Texel Sheep Wool. Or at Skéépe, you know, of those yummy Texel wool socks.
- Fair wool, straight from the farmer, at Pure Wool is all about local, sustainable wool. They collect sheep's wool from Dutch farmers and turn it into beautiful yarns. Perfect for anyone who likes to knit, crochet or weave their own with a truly honest product.
- At Holland Wool you will find beautiful Dutch fur wool, ideal for those who want to get started with felting, spinning or chunky knitting themselves. The wool comes from domestic sheep and is available in various natural shades.
- At Wool farm Blij Bezuiden the entire wool chain is managed in one place: from shearing their own merino sheep to processing the wool into yarn, felt and other craft products.
Want to know even more about wool? Go for a wool master class
You can at The Knitwit Stable By the way, you can also follow a master class, where you will learn everything about the entire production process of a woollen garment, from raising sheep to producing the wool and (machine-)knitting it. After the master class, you will go home with a lot of knowledge and a self-knitted woollen hat. Want to continue knitting right after the master class? They also sell wool at The Knitwit Stable, from their own sheep and alpacas and merino wool from their own goats. It doesn't get any more local than that!
Wool from the Netherlands: it is a good search, but fortunately there are initiatives that see that it is a wonderful product like Polderdaad.
Dutch wool accessories and products
When you think of wool, you quickly think of a nice cardigan, scarf or mittens, but of course there are many more products made of wool and there are Dutch sheepies too. A few ideas:
- With the woollen duvets from Shepherds Bed how to never count sheep again, because oy, how tasty they look fluffy out. And all thanks to the wool of Dutch moorland sheep that live outside in a flock 365 a year.
- In Haarlem, you can have a woolshop Wool felting follow with wool from North Holland sheep. It doesn't get any more local. Besides workshops, which she thus calls woolshops, she sells wool art.
- Wool wall hangings and wool artworks made of wool from Dutch sheep living in freedom and joy in nature can also be found at Halona.
- Yumeko, you know, the bedding brand with a sustainable mission, also has a special edition hot water bottle bags and plaids from Dutch wool. Once again, they managed to drum up the sheep from The Knitwit Stable for this.
- Texel Products has a lovely collection of Dutch wool accessories such as lovely slippers made of Texel wool and cosy Texel sheepskins as rugs.
- Did you know that you can not only wear wool, but also use it in the garden? Dutch Wool prove that with their wool pellets and Oro with their cloud grains of Dutch sheep's wool, a natural fertiliser that slowly releases nutrients to the soil. These pellets retain moisture, improve soil structure and even act as slug repellent. A smart and sustainable way to boost your plants!
Go for Dutch wool!
It costs a bit, but then you get something: Dutch wool products made in a fair way from wool from sheep that are well off and grazing comfortably outside all year round. After years of being considered a residual product, Dutch wool is making a rightful comeback. And you can do your bit! Are you looking for a nice warm wool for the cold months, your knitting hobby or your interior? Then you now have the shopping tips to make a better, more sustainable choice. Do you have another great Dutch wool tip? Let us know! We will gladly add to this list.
Want to know more about the environmental impact of wool and why it is extra important to choose good quality and fair wool? Then check out our little research on the environmental impact of wool!
Photo credits: main image: sheep & woman at mill: The Knitwit Stable, balls of wool: Polderdraaad. Other: sheep, plaid and wool bale: Yumeko, cardigan: The Knitwit Stable, socks: Skéépe, ball of wool: Polderdraaad, sheep: Marco Palazzo (Pexels).
