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Joost
Joost Jongerius (1969) grew up in Riethoven, a small village in Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands. After secondary school he ended up at the technical school in Schoonhoven. Originally intending to become a goldsmith, he was more taken by the training for clockmaking. What appealed to him were the technical and mechanical aspects. Following a year’s work experience in Pforzheim, Germany he was employed by a respected watch and clockmaker in Middelburg. From this man, originally an instrument maker, Joost got a good grounding in detailed, precision work.
At the end of 1993 Joost moved to Breda to take employment at a leading antique clock and barometer dealer and restoring company. Whilst there a good number of lovely top-level pieces passed through his hands and were restored by him.
In 1999 he established his own restoration studio in Breda. Here he concentrates on the restoration of antique clocks and barometers. By this time he had married Jessica Snoeij, a book-binder. Two artisans under one roof. Three children are born to them, Jeppe, Joëlle and Jitte.
In September 2007 they moved to Wagenberg above Breda. A pretty, quiet village, a bigger workspace with more work places and good living.
Joost is keen on sport. Indeed he needs to be, since apart from occasionally having to strike an anvil or walk round the workshop a clockmaker doesn’t get much exercise. So he runs and cycles regularly, but most of all can be found on the water rowing. And the children take care of any additional exercise.
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Interview
Joost had five years needed for the restoration of a very special clock, a southern German Turmuhr from 1575 in the picture below. Reporter Max Krukziener wanted to see the clock and visit us. Click the audio link to listen to his report.
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Our Team
We collaborate with a group of colleagues from different trades. This often means we are especially multi-facetted since we deal with all aspects of the clock restoration process.
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We have a number of places available for apprentices from the clockmaking course at the technical school in Schoonhoven. Their ages range from 18 to around 58, from day-school to part-time apprentices. In this way we can keep the craft alive. As well as the pleasure it gives to work with a group like this and the joy you feel to see them growing in the craft, you get something back from each of them. In this way they help the company to be more flexible so that we can react more quickly when we need to. And some of them stay on with us after their traineeship.
Our most faithful employee has almost reached histwelve and a half year anniversary: Joost’s father joined us after retiringand turns up every Tuesday.
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