I am Thijo van Beek , living in Holland. 
I make kites. No toys for children, I make big kites, flying art.
I have been doing this since 1992.

I, Thijo ( truckdriver by proffesion) was 36 when I flew my first kite, although it was not really my kite,but my, at that time 4 years old son's.
As a child living close to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol I was not allowed to fly kites.
After buying a cheap stuntkite in a souvenir shop, I went to a kiteshop in Amsterdam, VLIEGERTUIG.
I bought my first kite, a Speedwing, but soon that was not enough.
At that time Alice Weeve was the shop owner, and a very enthusiastic kiteflyer/builder.
She told me I could make the kite I wanted myself.
This was unbelievable, making your own kite! So I made a Speedwing, and believe it or not, it did fly!
Very proud I showed it to Alice and Mary-Josee, who worked in the shop, and they liked it also.
But Marie-Josee said to me, the sewing was not to bad at the frontside, but the back of the kite looked terrible!
"Kiteflyers always look at the backside of your kite, so you have to improve your sewing"
That lesson I never forgot. By now my kites are appreciated by many people,
or at least that is what I hope.
The Red Baron was my third kite, witch I build in 1994.
It was a great hit at the festivals in Holland, and after a while there where some invitations from Germany also.
By now we've been flying our kites in many countries all over the world.
Also I am the webmaster for the International Kitefliers Birthday Calendar.

*I have been living (and travelling the world) with Ada Schönhage from 1995 till September 2005, then we splitt up.
So you will see a lot of her, and her kites to on this site.

If you like to see some of my kites, please click on "next"
If you want to, please contact me by E-mail, if possible I will give you an answer.
Dont forget to visit the International Kiteflyers Birthday Calendar HERE

 

Thank you for visiting my site !