“Gateway to Huaqiangbei” | A Learning Journey: Season 4

Dutch maker Henk first came to Huaqiangbei over a decade ago, fascinated by a place where an idea could quickly take shape. In 2013, he left his life in the Netherlands and moved to Shenzhen, eventually founding TroubleMaker, a community and incubator for hardware makers from around the world.

Over the years, Henk has helped international entrepreneurs navigate Huaqiangbei, find the right partners, and turn sketches and prototypes into real products. He has also experienced the uncertainty of entrepreneurship, the closure of his workspace, and the decision to begin again. Today, Shenzhen is where he works, creates and calls home—and Huaqiangbei remains his gateway to people, ideas and possibilities from across the world.