Custom craftsmanship · Arkel · Central Netherlands

Your Outdoor Life,
Expertly Built

Stylish canopies, garden lodges and garden rooms, sustainable craftsmanship from Arkel, built on site at your home, and fully arranged construction kits.

Get in touch View our range

10 years of craftsmanship

More than 10 years of experience in woodworking.

On site or as a kit

Built on site at your home or delivered as a complete construction kit.

100% custom made

Bespoke or standard sizes, we build exactly what your garden needs.

Garden lodge by Oskam Buitenleven in de tuin
10+ years of
craftsmanship
ABOUT OSKAM BUITENLEVEN

More than 10 years of craftsmanship in wood

Oskam Buitenleven was founded by John Oskam in Arkel. With more than 10 years of experience in woodworking, we design and build custom-made canopies, garden lodges, garden rooms and related structures.

Every project starts with a personal intake conversation. We listen to your wishes, assess the location and advise you on the best wood type, layout and finish. That way we guarantee a result that perfectly suits your home and lifestyle, and lasts for decades.

"We don't just build, we build for the long term."John Oskam
10Years of experience
500+Projects completed
100%Custom made
Read our story
HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS

Born from craftsmanship

Every Oskam Buitenleven structure starts from the same principle: honest materials, artisanally crafted.

Douglas Timber

European Douglas timber of the highest quality, durable and ageing beautifully.

Craftsmanship

Every structure is made to measure and built on site at your home.

Sustainable

Responsibly produced with care for the environment and a lifespan of decades.

Volledig Maatwerk

Bespoke or standard sizes, we build exactly what your garden and home need.

OUR RANGE

Craftsmanship Made to Measure

From canopy to outdoor kitchen: everything designed and built to measure on site at your home.

Most popular

Canopies & Verandas

Sheltered enjoyment of your garden

  • Free-standing or attached
  • Douglas, Larch, Oak or Thermowood
  • Bitumen, polycarbonate, tiles or sedum
Learn more

Garden Lodges

Your own bespoke garden room

  • Fully enclosed garden lodge
  • Insulation and finishing available
  • Designed and built to measure
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Garden Rooms

An enclosed garden room attached to your home

  • Attached to the house, glass walls with a solid roof
  • Enjoy all year round
  • Seamlessly matching your home
Learn more

Glass Sliding Walls

A seamless transition to outdoors

  • Clear or tinted glass
  • Smooth-running systems
  • Can be added later
Learn more

Outdoor Kitchens

Culinary enjoyment in the open air

  • Built fully to measure
  • Weather-resistant materials
  • Including worktop and storage
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Windows

Steel or wood, always elegant

  • Steel or wooden frames
  • Elegant slim profiles
  • Made to fit perfectly
Learn more
View full range
HOW WE WORK

From first meeting to delivery

01

Meet & intake

We visit you at home, assess the situation on site and listen to your wishes. We bring wood samples with us.

02

Design & quotation

You receive a custom design with a clear, no-obligation quotation. Transparent and without surprises.

03

Production on site at your home, on site or as a kit

Your structure is made to measure and built on site, from the wood type of your choice.

04

Delivery or installation

You choose: a complete kit to install yourself, or we take care of the full installation.

COMPLETED WORK

Recent Projects

Elk project is uniek, hieronder een selectie van recent opgeleverd werk.

Shed

Shed with skylight in Gorinchem

Gorinchem · Douglas rhombus · Skylight

Garden lodge

Garden lodge with shed in Arkel

Arkel · Douglas · Gable roof

Canopy

Aluminium canopy against the house

Aluminium · Translucent roof · Low maintenance
View all projects
KNOWLEDGE & INSPIRATION

Tips & news

Practical tips on wooden canopies, garden lodges and garden rooms

Maintenance

How to keep your wooden canopy beautiful for decades

Douglas fir and larch age beautifully; with this simple care the wood stays in top condition.

3 minRead more →
Permits

Canopy or garden room: do you need a permit?

When you can build without a permit and what to watch out for.

2 minRead more →
Advice

Which wood type suits your project?

Douglas, Larch, Oak or Thermowood: the differences at a glance.

4 minRead more →
More tips & news
INSTAGRAM

Follow our work on Instagram

See our latest projects and updates at Oskam Buitenleven.

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TESTIMONIALS

What Clients Say

Write a review

More than 10 years of craftsmanship, built on trust for satisfied clients across the central Netherlands.

M
Martijn de VriesGorinchem · Canopy 500×350 cm
★★★★★

We are extremely happy with our new canopy. John thought along with us from start to finish and the quality is truly excellent. The Douglas is holding up beautifully and still looks brand new after a year.

S
Sandra & Peter BakkerLeerdam · Garden lodge with sliding doors
★★★★★

After a long search we found Oskam Buitenleven. What craftsmanship! Our garden lodge is exactly as we envisioned it. Installation went flawlessly and communication was always fast and clear.

K
Kees HoogendijkArkel · Garden room 400×300 cm
★★★★★

A client for years and impressed every single time. First a carport, then a garden room. Everything made with the same care and precision. Would not want a home without one!

F
Familie WillemsVianen · Glass sliding walls
★★★★★

The glass sliding walls John installed truly complete our terrace. Beautiful finish, neatly delivered on the agreed date. Absolutely recommended for anyone in the area.

See all our Google reviews
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything you want to know

Average delivery time is 4 to 8 weeks after ordering, depending on the type of structure and material availability. Custom projects may take slightly longer. We keep you informed throughout the process.
We mainly work with Douglas, Larch, Oak and Thermowood. Douglas has a warm colour and ages to a beautiful grey. Larch is extra durable with a fine grain. Oak is the premium choice for a timeless look. Thermowood is thermally treated, making it extra stable and low-maintenance.
Both options are available. You can choose a complete kit that you (or your contractor) install yourself, or we take care of full production and installation. For installation we visit you for an intake to discuss your wishes on site.
In many cases no permit is required, provided the structure meets the conditions for permit-free building (surface area, height and position relative to the house). We advise you on this during the intake meeting. When in doubt, you can also check with your municipality.
Yes, we supply glass sliding walls, LED lighting, patio heating, integrated gutters and electrically operated sun screens as additions to any structure. Tell us your wishes and we will include this in the proposal.
Douglas and Larch age gracefully by nature and in principle do not need annual treatment. To preserve the colour you can apply an oil or stain. Oak and Thermowood require even less maintenance. We give you extensive maintenance advice upon delivery.

We are happy to help

Questions or want a quotation? Get in touch and John Oskam will gladly think along with you.

AddressOnderweg 6, 4241 XG Arkel
VakwerkWelcome by appointment in Arkel
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