Peter Gentenaar began making paper in 1973, seeking handmade sheets for his etchings. Learning the full craft—from plant fibers to sheet forming—he became captivated by the material. After building his own Hollander in 1991 to process flax and hemp, he abandoned etching entirely.

For many years his daughter Trude, named after textile artist Trude Guermonprez, has worked alongside him, growing from assistant to full collaborator, sharing his deep love for fiber and papermaking.