When the first word you speak is "vogel" ("bird"in English) it's hard not to have a lifelong passion for these flying intelligent wonders of evolution. A passion that has always been a common thread trough my life. Combining this passion with taxidermy started at Art School where I started using the dead birds I found in my art projects. Since I was struggling to use the birds in their full potential, my parents gave me a taxidermy workshop for my 20th birthday. My best birthday present ever, and one that would probably determine the rest of my life. After Art School I attended the Radboud University of Nijmegen and got my Phd in Arts. I've always found an interest in the symbolism of birds during the early modern age. Therefore I wrote a thesis about the ring necked parakeet in historical art and one about "the Goldfinch" by Carel Fabritius.
During my study I supported myself by selling the birds I mounted, and by the time I got my Masters degree this was going well enough to make taxidermy my full time profession. While I was writing my Master thesis I met Willem who is now not only my partner in life but also in business. He is my manager and handy man. But most important of all, he gives our mounts their finishing touch which gives them back their "soul". He has a life long interest and passion for extinct animals and has created reconstrutions that can be found in museums all over the world. He has an extensive knowledge of nature due to his experience with keeping and rearing many different species of birds, as well as reptiles, mammals, insects and exotic plants. Together we live and work from our home and workshop based in the Netherlands near the medieval city of 's Hertogenbosch, sending our taxidermy art to collectors and museums worldwide.

Christel & Willem van Ommen-Verdaasdonk

Awards:

2022
World Taxidermy Championships - Springfield Missouri US:
Winner of the Best in World title - Master division - non-game birds
Best of show Habitat Award
Best in Category birds - Collective artists Master division


2021
European Taxidermy Championships - Budapest Hungary:
Professional division - 1st place - Small birds
Professional division - 2nd place - Medium birds

Karl Lange Award
Chosen from all category winners in professional division by vote of all judges

SZK-Bird Award
For the highest scoring entry in the
small bird category in professional
division


2019
National Dutch Taxidermy Championship 2019 - Friesland NL
2nd place - large birds


About us:

When the first word you speak is "vogel" ("bird"in Dutch) it's hard not to have a lifelong passion for these flying intelligent wonders of evolution. A passion that has always been a common thread trough my life. Combining this passion with taxidermy started at Art School where I started using the dead birds I found in my art projects. Since I was struggling to use the birds in their full potential, my parents gave me a taxidermy workshop for my 20th birthday. My best birthday present ever, and one that would probably determine the rest of my life. After Art School I attended the Radboud University of Nijmegen and got my Phd in Arts. I've always found an interest in the symbolism of birds during the early modern age. Therefore I wrote a thesis about the ring necked parakeet in historical art and one about "the Goldfinch" by Carel Fabritius.
During my study I supported myself by selling the birds I mounted, and by the time I got my Masters degree this was going well enough to make taxidermy my full time profession. While I was writing my Master thesis I met Willem who is now not only my partner in life but also in business. He is my manager and handy man. But most important of all, he gives our mounts their finishing touch which gives them back their "soul". He has a life long interest and passion for extinct animals and has created reconstrutions that can be found in museums all over the world. He has an extensive knowledge of nature due to his experience with keeping and rearing many different species of birds, as well as reptiles, mammals, insects and exotic plants. Together we live and work from our home and workshop based in the Netherlands near the medieval city of 's Hertogenbosch, sending our taxidermy art to collectors and museums worldwide.

​Christel & Willem van Ommen-Verdaasdonk