In Dietje’s formative years her artistic uncle pushed her in the direction of Gold–and–Silver-smithing college in Schoonhoven, the Netherlands. She attended this college for three years, followed by two years of apprenticeship in Vancouver British Columbia. After her apprenticeship she planned to return to the Netherlands, but decided to stay in Canada because of the plentiful job opportunities; the inspiring goldsmith’s community, and the freedom that Canada had to offer. She felt it was possible to make her mark here without all of the obstacles.
Dietje worked for several jewelers in Vancouver, including the Swedish Jeweler, Ragnar Jeweler, Gold & Silversmiths in Gastown and later Brinkhaus Jewelers.
In 1980 Dietje struck out on her own and worked out of her home in West Vancouver and then moved into her own studio in downtown Vancouver a few years later. In 1990 Dietje opened Forge & Form, a retail shop/studio on Granville Island.
Dietje pulls her inspiration from European design and incorporates it into her own style, creating original designs.
