VanderMeij Guitars was founded in 2015 by luthier Koen van der Meij (1989). He was able to combine both his passions, woodworking and playing guitar, during his education on the Amsterdam school for woodworking, graduating with both an acoustic and electric guitar.

Having fallen in love with the craft of making guitars, Koen continued to build electric guitars besides his daytime job in the wood trade. He eventually applied for an internship at a renown Dutch bass builder where he learned all ins and outs of fine instrument building.

After several builds led to inquiries for custom guitars and the first prize at the Dutch guitar builders meeting, Koen realized he wanted to take the leap: the smal shed he worked from was not sufficient anymore. In January 2015, Koen found a workshop in Amsterdam and VanderMeij Guitars was officially founded. In 2020 another milestone was achieved by exhibiting at NAMM and quitting his daytime job at another renown Dutch guitar brand.

In 2021 the workshop was moved to a bigger more professional workshop close to Amsterdam. With a production facility downstairs and an assembly room, office and showroom upstairs, this shop will be sufficient for the next years to come.

Right now VanderMeij Guitars offers three guitar models made 100% in the Dutch custom shop: the superstrat Magistra, headless Medusa and X-shape Fleshweaver. And a bass: the Maximus. In 2025, Koen started winding his own pickups, releasing the Fleshweaver pickup with Nouri Yetgin as the first seperately sold pickup. In 2026 another pickup will be released.