The Düsseldorf Chamber of Crafts is a self-governing body. It represents and promotes the interests of the skilled trades—particularly those of the more than 60,000 businesses within its jurisdiction, the Düsseldorf administrative district. In its day-to-day work, it carries out official duties such as maintaining the register of skilled trades, advising businesses, providing training and continuing education for skilled workers, and offering policy advice.
- Category:
- Wirtschaft / Handwerk
- Places:
- Düsseldorf
- Contact information:
geske.houtrouw@hwk-duesseldorf.de
- Represented by:
- Geske Houtrouw
The craft sector possesses its own creative expertise. The focus is less on developing reproducible products and scalable manufacturing processes and more on creating custom solutions and one-of-a-kind pieces. As such, it operates at the intersection of design and art. Through close collaboration with clients, unique solutions are created that incorporate sustainable perspectives—thus making both the craftspeople and the clients ambassadors for these sustainable values.
At the same time, the skilled trades possess a high level of expertise in bringing ideas to life. They bridge the gap between ideas and implementation—both within their own projects and in collaboration with other creative professionals. Here, too, sustainability is negotiated through dialogue and is often made possible only through such exchange. Through the skilled trades’ participation in transform.NRW, the Chamber of Skilled Trades aims to share these skills with a broad group of stakeholders from the arts, culture, and design, and to foster dialogue on an equal footing.
Sustainability at the Düsseldorf Chamber of Crafts
The Chamber of Crafts focuses on two aspects of sustainability: First, measures that directly impact environmental and social sustainability—with an emphasis on CO2 reduction and resource conservation, as well as the health and safety of its own employees. Second, the Chamber of Crafts indirectly influences the sustainability of businesses, for example through advisory and educational services. In 2025, the Düsseldorf Chamber of Crafts presented its first sustainability report for the year 2024.
