September 4 is the big day! That’s when the first episode of the new season of *De HaakSTER 2020* premieres! Over the past few months, we’ve been searching for the ten best Haakster stars to compete against each other in this exciting elimination contest. Curious to know who’s competing for the title of “De HaakSTER 2020” this season? Then read on!
Over the course of 12 episodes, you’ll see who will be crowned De Haakster 2020. After two exciting seasons, the third season also promises to be a real nail-biter. We’d like to introduce you to the ten crochet stars who will be going head-to-head with their crochet hooks and yarn.
Astrid | 22 years | Bredene, Belgium
In my daily life, I study architecture. To completely disconnect from the hustle and stress of school for a while, I love to crochet. It’s my daily moment of zen! I enjoy crocheting amigurumi, but I also love drawing, painting, and bookbinding. You could definitely call me a creative busy bee! For me, this contest is a super fun challenge where I can learn a lot, like designing my own patterns. I’m really looking forward to it!
Chloë | 22 years | Mortsel, Belgium
In early July, I graduated with a degree in sociology, and my search for a fun, social, and creative job has begun. Where I’ll live and what exactly I’ll be doing is still up in the air, but if there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that I’ll keep crocheting! When I’m not holding a Crochet Hook, I enjoy playing board games with family and friends, and I love reading, hiking, and traveling. My mom (who’s left-handed) taught me (a right-hander) how to crochet. And I was hooked the moment I made my first Amigurumi. Since then, I’ve made many little stuffed animals, and I’m ready to discover new things. So, for me, “Haakster 2020” is a dream opportunity to try things I wouldn’t normally dare to attempt. My boyfriend likes my creations and encourages me, just like my family and friends do. A new challenge every week—I’m looking forward to this exciting adventure!
Lisa | 25 years | Austerliltz, Netherlands
In my daily life, I really enjoy working for a municipality as an AO/IC staff member. Outside of work, my biggest hobby is crocheting. I learned to crochet from my mother, and I’m always trying to improve my skills in this incredibly addictive and super fun hobby. I love crocheting Amigurumi the most, but I also enjoy making other things for a change. On a whim, I signed up for this contest, and now here I am, participating. I’m looking forward to showing you what I’ve got!
Dorine | 53 years | Barendrecht, Netherlands
I’m a mother of three, a lucky woman with a wonderful partner, and an instructor at a vocational school specializing in on-the-job training (internships). My job keeps me on the road a lot, so I really enjoy being at home. It’s my favorite place to crochet every day. For me, crocheting is (usually) a way to relax. I always have a few projects on the go so I can crochet whatever best suits my mood at the moment. For example, sometimes I just don’t feel like dealing with the fiddly details of an Amigurumi, so I’ll work on a Blanket instead. Besides crocheting, I also enjoy sewing, but because of this crocheting adventure, that’s on hold for now. I’m thrilled to have been selected for the Haakster and am very curious about all the assignments, the results, and the eventual winner!
Mieke | 69 years old | Driebergen, Netherlands
I am the mother of three wonderful children and two very sweet bonus daughters, and the wife of Klaas. Together, we have 13 grandchildren who love to stay with us during school vacations. I’ve been retired for four years now, and my husband and I are enjoying the freedom to do whatever we please. For me, that means lots of creative projects—it’s wonderful! Sixty years ago, I took my first craft classes in elementary school. Ever since then, in addition to drawing and photography, I’ve always been busy with sewing, embroidery, knitting, and crocheting. What I enjoy most is putting my own spin on an existing pattern. That way, something surprising always turns out every time! After following two seasons of *Haakster*, I decided to give it a try myself. What a challenge!
Hannie | 52 years | Groesbeek, Netherlands
I’m the mother of three wonderful children and Erik’s wife. Ever since I was little, I’ve been busy with threads, buttons, paper, and markers. At school, too, I enjoyed the creative subjects the most. Eventually, I ended up working in healthcare, but in my free time I was always doing something creative: knitting, sewing, scrapbooking, and embroidering. Everything except crocheting. That is, until I picked up a Crochet Hook in late 2014. With the help of YouTube, I got started, and before long I was hooked—or rather, addicted! All I wanted to do was crochet. From Cuddly Toys to home decor, and from clothing to bags. When I saw the call for entries for “Haakster 2020,” I hesitated for a moment—would I be good enough? Still, I took the plunge and signed up. And here I am! I’m thrilled to introduce myself as one of the contestants for “Haakster 2020”! I’m incredibly excited about it and hope to surprise you all with my creations.
Nienke | 44 years | Den Hoorn, Netherlands
I’m a mother of three, married, and the Content and Communications Team Leader at a health insurance company. I’m so excited to be participating in the Haakster 2020! I’ve been crocheting for about 8 years now, and I’ve already crocheted countless items—some as gifts, others made to order and sold. It’s wonderful to see something “come to life” from a ball of Cotton or Wool. It never ceases to amaze me. This contest comes at just the right time. I love staying busy, and during this period when there’s a bit of a decrease in what needs to be done, I enjoy having a goal. I’m really curious to see what assignments we’ll get and just how difficult it actually is to design under time pressure. I’ve crocheted all sorts of things—from shawls and scarves to blankets, doilies, bags, and more—but I always end up coming back to Amigurumi. So I’m curious to see if I’ll discover new aspects of crocheting that I’ll enjoy just as much!
Joyce | 33 years | Tilburg, Netherlands
I’m the mother of 2-year-old Maarten and Tom’s wife. I’ve been crocheting for about 9 years now, but in recent years it’s really become an addiction. For me, crocheting is a way to relax and a wonderful outlet! And once a project is finished, I usually give it away. The reactions from others are what I do it for. Most of the time, they’re baby shower gifts, but sometimes I treat myself to a scarf or other accessory. I also really love discovering new crochet tools and have already collected various tins, project bags, markers, Scissors, and beautiful Crochet Hooks. The contest is a big challenge for me because it sparks my creativity to design my own pieces!
Yoena | 23 years old | Schiedam, Netherlands
I’m Nik’s girlfriend, mom to three adorable guinea pigs, and a software developer. In my free time, I love to put on my dancing shoes and get creative. I enjoy quilting and crocheting. I’ve watched both seasons of *Haakster* and, after seven years of crocheting, I figured I should give it a shot. It worked out well, because I’m one of the 10 contestants! I’m really curious to see what my experience on *Haakster* will be like, what fun challenges we’ll all get, and how I’ll enjoy vlogging. It’s sure to be a big party!
Kiani | 28 years old | Waalre, Netherlands
I’m Pieter’s girlfriend and I work full-time at the best paint wholesaler in Eindhoven. My passion for crocheting started about 5 years ago after I signed up for a knitting class. Sounds logical, doesn’t it!? But after a few knitting lessons, the instructor also taught me the basic techniques of crocheting, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I crochet a lot more than I knit now. For the first few years, I only crocheted Amigurumi, but since last year I’ve also been crocheting larger items more often, like scarves and cardigans. Crocheting is incredibly relaxing for me. And seeing something actually take shape in my hands gives me a great sense of fulfillment. I love learning new crochet techniques. So taking part in Haakster 2020 is a fun challenge. I’m looking forward to learning new techniques and writing my own patterns. I’m really excited about this crochet adventure and hope you’ll have just as much fun watching the episodes as I do creating the designs!
Starting September 4, a new episode of Haakster 2020 will be available every Friday on the Yarnplaza YouTube channel. Don't want to miss a thing? Then keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook!
