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KARINAS GESCHICHTE

Das allererste Mäusehaus wurde von der Künstlerin Karina Schaapman (1960) mit der Hand erstellt und gebaut. Karinas Idee war es, ein etwas anderes Kinderbuch zu kreieren. Nicht eines mit Illustrationen, wie man es so oft sieht, sondern ein Kinderbuch mit Fotos von unterschiedlichen Szenen. Diese Szenen sollten sich in dem handgemachten enormen Puppenhaus abspielen und einen dreidimensionalen Einblick von allen Seiten in die Welt des Mäusehauses verschaffen. Die Geschichte von Sam und Julia hatte sie sich bereits vorher ausgedacht.

IN 2008 BEGANN KARINA MIT DER ARBEIT AN DEM ERSTEN MÄUSEHAUS

She built it out of cardboard boxes and recycled materials. Room by room this world of mice became larger en more realistic. After three years of building almost fulltime the first Mouse Mansion was completed. The original mansion is two meters wide and three meters tall. In 2011 Karina's dream became a reality. Her Mouse Mansion was photographed and the first book in The Mouse Mansion series was published: Sam en Julia.

Now there are twentytwo books published, and the original Mouse Mansion is on display in the Mouse Mansion shop & mini museum in Amsterdam.

She built it out of cardboard boxes and recycled materials. Room by room this world of mice became larger en more realistic. After three years of building almost fulltime the first Mouse Mansion was completed. The original mansion is two meters wide and three meters tall. In 2011 Karina's dream became a reality. Her Mouse Mansion was photographed and the first book in The Mouse Mansion series was published: Sam en Julia.

Now there are twentytwo books published, and the original Mouse Mansion is on display in the Mouse Mansion shop & mini museum in Amsterdam.

Karina's world

Julia's appartement is largely based on Karina's childhood home. This home filled with love and creativity forms the foundation of the Mouse Mansion. Loads of Mouse Mansion stories find their origin in Karina's childhood memories. She is the daughter of a single mother, an immigrant from Indonesia. The loving atmosphere in their home was set in sharp contrast to the outside world, where both Karina and her mother were heavily discriminated against. With The Mouse Mansion Karina has created the world of inclusivity and friendship that she so desperately wanted as a child.

In ihren eigenen Worten: "Das Mäusehaus ist die Welt, in der ich möchte, dass jedes Kind aufwächst."

Julia's appartement is largely based on Karina's childhood home. This home filled with love and creativity forms the foundation of the Mouse Mansion. Loads of Mouse Mansion stories find their origin in Karina's childhood memories. She is the daughter of a single mother, an immigrant from Indonesia. The loving atmosphere in their home was set in sharp contrast to the outside world, where both Karina and her mother were heavily discriminated against. With The Mouse Mansion Karina has created the world of inclusivity and friendship that she so desperately wanted as a child.

"Das Mäusehaus ist die Welt, in der ich möchte, dass jedes Kind aufwächst."

IM MÄUSEHAUS DARFST DU...

... dich sicher und geborgen fühlen
... immer neugierig sein für Neues
... anders als andere sein, ohne Angst zu verspüren
... darauf vertrauen, dass alle füreinander da sind und aufeinander acht geben

EIN VIDEO ÜBER KARINA

A family run company

These days Karina is not alone in her efforts to spread the philosophy behind The Mouse Mansion. Since 2018 her four children are a large part of this journey. Family run business The Mouse Mansion Company is actively pursuing dreams of introducing Sam, Julia and their neighbours to the whole world.

mehr über das Familienbusiness