Guide — Wooden cabinets
Wooden cabinets: a buyer's guide to solid-wood furniture from the Netherlands
A wooden cabinet is more than storage. It is often the piece that sets the tone in a room — carrying dishes, books and memories for decades. This guide walks you through the different families of wooden cabinets, the wood species behind them, and what to look for when buying.
UniekeKastenWinkel.nl is not a webshop but a knowledge platform. Our 500 m² showroom in Goirle (near Tilburg, one hour from the Belgian border) is the place to see, touch and compare wooden cabinets in person. Orders and the live collection live on our webshop, FF Iets Anders.
The main families of wooden cabinets
Dutch and Belgian interiors have long favoured a small set of cabinet shapes. Each one has a distinct silhouette and use.
- Sideboard — a two-part cabinet with drawers and doors below, and often glass or panelled doors above.
- Apothecary cabinet — many small drawers, historically used in shops and pharmacies, now a striking statement piece.
- Display cabinet — full-height glazed doors to show off tableware, glass or ceramics.
- Dresser (low sideboard) — a lower, wide cabinet, ideal in the dining room or as a TV stand.
Wood species — teak, oak and pine
Solid teak is the most common choice for our cabinets: dense, oil-rich, dimensionally stable and beautifully aged. Oak is a classic European alternative, harder and cooler in tone. Pine is the softest of the three, warm and rustic, and takes paint particularly well — a natural fit for restyled and country-style pieces.
Buying a wooden cabinet — what to check
Look for solid wood on visible surfaces (not just veneer over MDF). Drawers should run smoothly on wooden or metal runners. Back panels can be thinner — that's normal — but the frame should feel rigid. Ask about the finish: oiled, waxed or lacquered each behave differently over the years.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship wooden cabinets to Belgium, Germany or France?
Yes. We deliver across the Benelux and, on request, into Germany and northern France. Delivery within 24 km of our Goirle showroom is free; longer routes are quoted per order.
Is teak wood sustainable?
The teak we work with is largely reclaimed from old Indonesian buildings and boats, or FSC-managed. Reclaimed teak has been drying for decades, which makes it exceptionally stable.
Can I have a wooden cabinet made to measure?
Yes. Our own workshop on Bali builds custom teak cabinets to the millimetre. Lead time is around 16 weeks. In-store restyling of an existing cabinet takes 1–2 weeks.
How do I care for solid-wood furniture?
Wipe with a slightly damp cloth, avoid direct heat sources and refresh oiled surfaces once a year with a wood-safe oil. Keep humidity above 40% to prevent hairline cracks.
Our webshop and customer service run in Dutch. English support is available on request via WhatsApp or email.
Browse the wooden-cabinet collection at FF Iets Anders (Dutch site)