Our Mission & Story
Historisch Hout didn’t start with a business plan. It began with coincidence, curiosity, and a passion for entrepreneurship.
Rick de Witte was eighteen when he first came into contact with upcycled wood. What started as a hobby, a chance discovery, quickly grew into a passion and eventually a mission. After all, why use new wood when the world already holds so much character-rich timber?
From his childhood home, Rick began sourcing, cleaning, and bringing Upcycled wood back to life. Soon, other sustainable wood types followed: old oak from Ukraine and the Balkan region, and aged softwood from the Austrian Alps or better said: barnwood. Wood with a story, and a second life in sight.
What started as a one man business grew within a few years into a private limited company with a close knit team of professionals. People with a love for the craft and an eye for detail. In our own workshop and sawmill, we process circular wood into high quality finished products: from reclaimed wood paneling and Reclaimed timber cladding to custom panels and a range of unique reclaimed flooring. And everything is done with care, precision, and respect for the material.
“We don’t make standard products. We make upcycled products with character.”
Historisch Hout has since grown into an established name, with projects throughout the Netherlands and beyond. Both at home and abroad, we have worked on unique interiors, exclusive custom solutions, and sustainable building applications. Every project is different, but our foundation remains the same: craftsmanship, reuse, and a strong dose of ambition.
That ambition goes beyond beautiful wood alone. We believe in circular construction, in the smart use of existing materials, and in creating value from what already exists. That is what we stand for, and what we work on every single day.
“The world has enough wood. It’s up to us to bring it back to life”
Why?
We believe that materials with a past are valuable for the future. By Upcycling the robust character of old wood, we contribute to a more sustainable world full of authenticity, beauty and meaning.
We want to inspire people to consciously choose quality, craft and a story that goes beyond the product itself.
How?
We achieve this by:
- Carefully collect old and sustainable wood and upcycle it by hand;
- Create unique, tailormade products with a distinctive look compared to new freshly cut wood.
- Collaborate with customers and partners who share our vision;
- Continuously innovate, dare to take risks and be result-oriented.
Our approach combines tradition and guts focusing on characterful end products as well as satisfied customers. In both the private and business sectors.
What?
Producing unique (bespoke) products made mainly from recycled wood or sustainably processed European wood, with respect for craftsmanship, history and the environment. Historisch Hout wants to contribute to a circular economy by upcycling used wood with character and giving it a second life. This creates sustainable applications of recycled wood within interiors and exteriors, which are attractive and accessible to both private and business clients.
