From Marrakech to Amersfoort: How I Became a Ceramist

Here are a few photos from the Ceramics Market in Amersfoort. They show how we set up our stand, a glimpse into the process of making our ceramics, and the finished pieces. Browse a small selection of the products we showcased at the market and get a behind-the-scenes look at our work.

When people ask me how I became a ceramist, I always smile. Because this story did not begin in a pottery studio. It began in the narrow streets of Marrakech, many years before I ever touched a piece of clay.

Growing Up Surrounded by Craft

I grew up in Marrakech, a city where handmade things are part of everyday life. The souks were filled with talented artisans that are shaping clay, weaving textiles, carving wood. Creating beautiful objects entirely by hand. Everywhere I looked, there was colour, texture, and patience.

As a child, I was fascinated by how something simple could become something meaningful. A lump of clay becoming a bowl. A piece of wood becoming something you use every single day. I did not know it at the time, but those early memories planted a seed that would take years to grow.

When Life Takes You in a Different Direction

Like many people, life took me somewhere I did not expect. After my studies, I moved to the Netherlands and built a career in a steady office job. It was stable. But something was always missing.

I found myself longing to create something with my own hands — not spend my days behind a screen. In 2021, I decided to listen to that feeling. I discovered ceramics, and what started as simple curiosity quickly became a deep passion.

Clay has a way of slowing you down. It does not allow you to rush. Every piece requires patience, attention, and a willingness to start over when things go wrong. I spent countless hours practising, experimenting, and making mistakes. And with every step, I felt more certain that I had found what I was meant to do.

Eventually I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I left my office job to dedicate myself full-time to ceramics.

How The Unique Touch Was Born

The Unique Touch grew naturally from that journey. I wanted to create handmade ceramics that feel personal and timeless — pieces made slowly, in small batches, designed to become part of everyday life.

Every bowl, mug, vase, and plate is shaped by hand in my studio in Amersfoort. That means every single piece is slightly different. No two are ever exactly the same.

My inspiration still comes from the handcrafted traditions I grew up with in Marrakech, combined with the calm, minimalist style I have found here in the Netherlands. These two worlds together have shaped my work and my creative identity — and they are present in every piece that leaves my studio.

A Milestone I Will Never Forget

In December 2024, I reached a moment I will always remember. The first official launch of The Unique Touch at the Art Market in Amersfoort.

Seeing people stop at my stand, pick up a piece, and feel that connection — it was something I cannot fully put into words. Some chose a piece for themselves. Others bought one as a gift for someone they loved. After years of learning, practising, and believing in something I could not yet fully see, that day felt like confirmation. Every hour had been worth it.

That first market was also a family adventure. My husband Chris and our then five-year-old son Dylan were there with me from the very beginning. What I never expected was that it would become something we would continue to do together. Since then, every market has been a shared experience — and working as a family has become one of the most meaningful parts of this journey.

What I Brought to That First Market

For my first market I kept things simple. I brought a selection of handmade stoneware mugs, ceramic bowls, small espresso cups and a few decorative pieces. Everything was made by hand in small batches in my studio, and every piece was slightly different from the next.

What surprised me most was which pieces people were drawn to. They would walk past, then come back. They would pick something up, turn it in their hands, and just hold it for a moment. That is something that never happens when you shop online. Seeing people connect with a piece in that way — feeling the weight of it, the texture — reminded me exactly why I make things by hand.

What That First Day Taught Me

That first market taught me more in one day than months of working alone in the studio ever could. I learned that people do not just buy a ceramic mug or a bowl. They buy the feeling it gives them. The idea of it sitting on their kitchen counter every morning. The story behind it.

I also learned that imperfection is not a weakness — it is the whole point. Several people specifically chose a piece because of a small irregularity in the glaze or a slight variation in shape. They wanted something that felt human. Something that could not have been made by a machine.

That is what handmade ceramics are really about.

What The Unique Touch Stands for Today

Since that first market, The Unique Touch has grown into something I am deeply proud of. But the values have never changed.

I still make everything by hand, one piece at a time, in small batches. I still choose quality over quantity. And I still believe that the objects we use every day deserve to be beautiful, considered and made with care.

Every piece that leaves my studio in Amersfoort is made to be used — not displayed on a shelf and forgotten. A mug that becomes part of your morning. A bowl that sits on your table every evening. A piece of ceramic jewellery that you reach for without thinking. That is what I make. And that is what The Unique Touch will always be about.

Come and Find Me

If you would like to follow along with what is happening in the studio, the best place is Instagram at @the_uni.que_touch — I share new pieces, studio moments and market updates there regularly.

You can also find me in person at the Museum Market at Museumplein in Amsterdam, every third Sunday of the month. Come and hold the pieces in your hands, say hello, and find something made just for you.

My current collection is also available on Etsy for anyone who cannot make it to the market.

The Journey Continues

Today, I create my work in Amersfoort. But the inspiration I carry will always come from where it all began.

Every piece I make tells a small part of that story. A story of craftsmanship, patience, and following your passion — even when it means taking a completely different path.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Hind