Wie zijn de eigenaren van Celtic WebMerchant?

At Celtic WebMerchant, three passionate experts are at the helm. They combine nearly twenty years of experience in the sector with a strong academic background. Moreover, they are true experts in the field of living history and re-enactment, with a specific specialization in 13th-century Scotland. Additionally, they have been visiting Elfia, Castlefest, and medieval and fantasy festivals throughout Europe for over 25 years.

Below we introduce our owners to you:

Patrick Gilbers – Founder, CEO & Creative Director

Patrick is the driving force behind the creative vision of our company. With nearly twenty years of experience in historical research and living history, he leads the development of our high-quality weapons and LARP gear.

• Focus: Historical accuracy, quality, and building a global community.
• Passion: Respect for heritage and providing an authentic experience to like-minded individuals.

Nienke Valk – CFO & Marketing Director

Nienke brings an impressive academic background to our team. As a Master in Art History (specializing in medieval art) and Middle Eastern Studies (University of Amsterdam), she combines strategic leadership with in-depth historical knowledge.

• Expertise: Medieval art and archaeology, material culture, and historical manuscripts (on which she worked, among others, at the John Rylands Library in Manchester).
• Role: Since 2022, she has led the international e-commerce strategy and customer experience as General Director. She also manages the company's finances.

Judith Schoen – Co-founder & Commercial Director

Judith is responsible for the operational side of the webshop, IT, and staff development. She holds a Master's in Celtic Studies and Medieval, Ancient and Renaissance Studies (Utrecht University).

• Expertise: Celtic languages, cultures, and archaeology (with her own publications on this subject). Additionally, she has an aptitude for IT.
• Role: Thanks to her technical expertise and multilingualism, she ensures that our systems function optimally for our global customer base.

Did you know? Because the owners have been actively involved in re-enactment and fantasy festivals for many years, they understand better than anyone what requirements your equipment must meet. Whether you are looking for a historically accurate sword or a fantasy outfit, their experience forms the basis of every product recommendation with us.