Moving abroad often means losing that 'insider' status that you held in your home country. The advantage of just 'knowing' how a system or local industry works, where to find the tools or resources you need to get something done. Remco recognised this, and that his public workshop in Amsterdam could act as an entrance, not just for locals needing somewhere to knock up a coffee table or use specific machinery… but also for expat carpenters, designers, artists and D-I-Y enthusiasts. The Openbare Werkplaats is providing foreigners in Amsterdam with an entry point - and community - that they may not otherwise find.