Daan Holsmuller (Rietveld Academy Amsterdam, 2007 – Visual Arts) has been designing and crafting high-quality kitchen knives since 2018. What began as a response to the lack of refined, well-designed European blades quickly became a long-term pursuit of functional beauty, precision, and individuality. Unsatisfied with the standard options available in both blade geometry and handle design, he set out to create knives that are not only tools but also meaningful, personal objects.

Daan primarily works with high-performance steels sourced from Scandinavia, chosen for their edge retention and cutting feel. Each handle is made from stabilized wood or hand-poured resin, allowing for rich textures, vivid color compositions, and a truly one-of-a-kind finish. No two knives are the same — each piece is handmade in Amsterdam.

His background in visual arts and architectural model making is deeply embedded in his approach: attention to form, balance, and material is as important as function. Over time, a lifelong fascination with Japanese craft and philosophy has increasingly shaped both the aesthetic and spirit of his work—most recently seen in unique art pieces that serve a practical purpose in the kitchen.

These are European knives — with a Japanese soul.