Nathan VantHof – A woodworker, a craftsman and a Teacher.
Over 20 years of experience teaching Fine Woodworking and Furniture Making courses to hundreds of aspiring students from all walks of life and skill levels.
Nathan embarked on his journey in The Netherlands, where he completed a four-year program at the HMC – Wood and Furniture Making College in Amsterdam. While still a student, he seized the opportunity to serve as a substitute teacher at the college and began teaching full-time at a local private school. It was here that he discovered his passion for teaching, as well as his profound love for woodworking, art, and craftsmanship.
During his second year of study, while perusing the school’s library, Nathan stumbled upon one of James Krenov’s books (An American based renowned furniture maker, artist, author and teacher). This encounter proved to be a turning point, shifting his approach to woodworking from merely constructing practical and skillful designs to a more holistic, sustainable artisan approach, where one develops an intimate connection with the wood, tools, and the process.
After several years of teaching alongside crafting commissioned projects at his studio in Utrecht, The Netherlands, Nathan relocated to Israel, his birthplace, with his young family in 2009, eager for a new adventure.
Their dream was to introduce the concept of “slow furniture” to a fast-paced, technologically oriented Israel, hoping to steer it in a different direction. Over the years, Nathan successfully established Israel’s first school of its kind. Students from across the country flocked to learn the art of fine woodworking, graduating from various programs with exquisitely crafted and designed furniture, annually showcased in Tel Aviv.
“Etz Ladaat” (Tree of Knowledge) continues to thrive under the dedicated management of Rachel Conforty, now situated in the picturesque location of Kibbutz Ashdot Yaacov near the Sea of Galilee.
Over time, Nathan’s connection to the natural world and sustainable lifestyle deepened, leading him to immerse himself further into the realm of permaculture. In 2022, Nathan and his family embarked on another adventure, purchasing a piece of land in sunny Portugal with aspirations to fully embrace a lifestyle of open spaces and nature.
Now residing in Portugal, Nathan has erected a new workshop, fully equipped with machines and tables imported from Israel. He conducts courses on a smaller scale while pursuing his own projects and designs, all the while remaining faithful to his first love—wood.
NATHAN VANTHOF 