Michiel de Hoog

Born in Utrecht, the Netherlands, in 1956, he began playing violin at the age of 10 and later took up the viola, performing in the Baroque Ensemble of the Utrecht Music School.

He studied violin making at the London College of Furniture (1976–1979) and went on to work in restoration and repair at Ealing Strings in London. In 1982, he moved to Chartres, France, where he worked with Paris violin shops and continued developing his craft with the support of Étienne Vatelot.

In 1985, he built his first baroque violin, inspired by his experience restoring 17th- and 18th-century instruments. This marked the beginning of his career as a full-time instrument maker.

Since relocating to Dublin in 1996, he has built violins, violas and cellos for musicians from both the classical and traditional music communities. He continues to create instruments with passion, curiosity and respect for historical craftsmanship.