A long-standing local shop in Amsterdam is marking a major anniversary this month. De Amsterdamse Naaimachine Centrale Wouters, located on Van Woustraat in De Pijp, is celebrating 65 years in business.
The family business originally began operating in Rotterdam back in 1912. However, the current shop’s founders - the grandparents of the present owners - eventually relocated to Amsterdam to start an independent storefront.
A history rooted in the neighborhood
The shop originally opened its doors on Tolstraat before moving to its current location on Van Woustraat. That move was spearheaded by the family grandmother, who was determined to secure a spot on the busier retail street despite facing significantly higher rent costs.
The gamble paid off, establishing the shop as a permanent fixture on the commercial corridor. Following her retirement in 1976, her daughter Jannie took over management and ran the business for decades before her passing in 2014.
Three generations of repair work
Today, the specialty store is run by the third generation of the family, including siblings Gerard and Wilma Wouters alongside Gerard’s partner, Karin.
Gerard began helping around the shop at eleven years old by oiling machines, while their father spent evenings repairing equipment after daytime deliveries.
Over the decades, the store has specialized in selling major sewing brands such as Singer, Pfaff, and Husqvarna, alongside a complete inventory of haberdashery supplies like threads and needles.
High demand for traditional crafts
Traditional repair work remains the core of the operation. The team reports that machine maintenance is a precise, classic craft that requires deep mechanical knowledge.
That expertise remains heavily sought after by local residents. Demand for mechanical servicing is currently so high that the shop recently had to institute a temporary intake hold, with around 130 sewing machines awaiting repairs in their workshop.
