Before the slaughter:

Inform the butcher that you want the hide or pelt to be tanned. Many butchers will then know to remove the hide as cleanly and carefully as possible. Fat and meat residues prevent the tanning agents from properly penetrating the hide, which can cause the hide to start rotting in those areas and result in bald spots in the fur. Always make sure to tell the butcher to handle and deliver the hide carefully and cleanly.

After the slaughter:

After slaughter, the flesh side of the hide must be salted as soon as possible. Sometimes the butcher will do this, but usually it is your responsibility. Use regular salt, such as coarse salt from a hardware store. Lay the hide flesh side up on the ground or on pallets. Sprinkle about 5 kg of salt for a sheep hide or 25 kg for a cowhide evenly over the surface and rub it in well. Allow the hide to dry in a cool place so that the salt can fully penetrate.

Before delivery:

Fold the hide several times and place it in a container, crate, or sturdy plastic bag. You can then bring the hide to us on weekdays between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Calling or emailing beforehand is not required, but appreciated, so we can ensure someone is available to receive your hide. Upon arrival, please check in at our office. We will record your details and take the hide into our care.

After handing it over:

We take a photo of your hide and stamp a unique number into it. This number is linked to your details in our system so that your hide can always be identified. Once your hide has been tanned, we will contact you. You can pick it up during business hours, or we can ship it to you for €10.50 per shipment.

The hides need to be salted by you before delivery to us. Lay the hide flesh side up on the ground or on pallets. Sprinkle approximately 5 kg of salt per sheep hide or 25 kg per cowhide evenly over the surface and rub it in well. Make sure the hide is free of fat and meat, so the salt can fully penetrate. Allow the hide to rest in a cool, dry place until you bring it to us.

You can bring your hide(s) or pelt(s) on weekdays between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Contacting us beforehand is not required, but appreciated so we can plan for someone to receive your hide. Upon arrival, please check in at our office on the right side. We will record your details and take your hide(s) or pelt(s) into care.

We inspect the hide for any slaughtering defects, the amount of fat or meat residues on the flesh side, and how well the hide has been salted. We then stamp your registration number near the tail and take photos, so the hide can always be identified.

If there are still significant fat or meat residues or if we need to re-salt the hide(s), additional charges may apply, approximately €40 per hide, depending on size and time required.

We recommend protecting the hide during transport, for example in a sturdy plastic bag or crate.

Please allow at least 6 months. All hides and pelts we tan on order are collected until there are enough to start the tanning process. This prevents your hide or pelt from getting lost in the batch.

Once your hide or pelt is ready, we will contact you. If we cannot reach you, we will leave a voicemail or send an email. If you have not heard from us after 9 months, please contact us. We may not have been able to reach you or may have additional information regarding the expected date.

Upon arrival, we register your hide(s) in our system. We take a photo and stamp a unique registration number near the tail. This number is linked to your details so your hide can always be identified. This allows us to monitor the progress of the tanning process and ensure every hide is handled correctly.

There are some risks involved in tanning a hide. We cannot provide a guarantee and are not liable for any damage.

Bald spots

It may happen that a hide develops bald spots on the fur side or that the fur comes loose after tanning. This usually occurs due to excessive fat or meat residues on the flesh side, or if the hide was salted too late or insufficiently. Therefore, it is important to inform the butcher to remove the hide as cleanly as possible and to salt the hide yourself as soon as possible.

Upon arrival, we inspect the hide. If necessary, we remove excess fat or meat and re-salt the hide. In many cases, however, it is too late: the rotting process has already begun, or the hide has stiffened, making it harder to treat and remove residues.

Holes/Tears

The hide passes through a fleshing machine, which removes remaining fat and meat from the leather. Unfortunately, the machine’s blades can sometimes damage or even cut through the hide. Causes include the health of the animal, the amount of fat on the flesh side, or insufficient/late salting. We have no control over this and cannot guarantee the outcome or be held liable for any damage.

Damage such as bald spots, tears, or holes can occur if the hide was not properly salted or still contains a lot of fat or meat residues. For more details, see 'Are there any risks?'.

We charge €65 per sheep hide and €350 per cowhide. Other types of hides or pelts are available on request. You are responsible for delivery and any associated costs. If you want the hide/pelt returned, shipping costs range from €10.50–€15.00 per shipment, depending on location.

We do not tan pets. We specialize in sheep hides, particularly Texel sheep. Our process and machines are designed for this. Pets also often have high emotional value, making it too risky. However, we can tan other sheep breeds and most other livestock. Please contact us by phone first at +31 (0) 515 57 24 61 before sending or bringing your hide/pelt.