Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
7 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
55
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Badges (3)
Details
Description
Hi! How nice that you have landed on our profile. We are Edward (52 years young) and Ingrid (55 years young), Dutch and living in Ballenstedt since September 2020, where we bought an old and decayed train station. We instantly fell in love with the building and its historical details, which have many stories to tell. Ballenstedt is located in the beautiful region of the Harz, in the former East Germany.
Since July 2020 we have been working on the mega job and we would like to invite you to help us and have adventures with us. We have already had fantastic help from dozens of WorkAwayers from as many Nationalities and love the Workaway platform to get to know other people and cultures. Ingrid has been a Workawayer herself.
2020 was all about demolition, 2021 and 2022 was all about building, and 2023 will be about finishing. Do you like to painting, carpenting or working in the garden? There are plenty of different jobs to do, with fun always coming first.
We are open, honest, enthusiastic, welcoming and love challenges. A station is always a lively place of people from all over the world who have their own life stories. That is what we also want to achieve with our station (unfortunately without rails, but with a beautiful bike path). We enjoy connecting people at our station and contributing to their travel stories.
Our English is very good, our German good (and getting every day better) and Ingrid also speaks a little French and Italian. Of course you become part of our life and we like to take the Workawayers everywhere (if you want of course).
Our project is getting a lot of attention from the Dutch and German media. We have even been on Dutch National television and are we have been followed by the German television, what will be broadcasted from June 2023.
The town of Ballenstedt is small (about 5,500 inhabitants), but has a beautiful castle that is also related to our train station. Tourist places like Quedlinburg (an UNESCO World Heritage Site), Wernigerode and Thale (Middle Mountains) are close by, as well as trendy cities like Leipzig (75 minutes by car), Magdeburg (50 minutes by car) and Berlin (2 hours by car). Ballenstedt is located in a quiet area, with beautiful nature. You can do wonderful biking and hiking in the area.Types of help and learning opportunities
GardeningDIY and building projectsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
The Workaways are becoming a part of our lives. We really enjoy involving the Workayers in our daily activities and social life. At the station you will get to know the various German and Dutch craftsmen and perhaps other WorkAwayers. Beyond that, you may also join us to visit our (Dutch and German) friends and family. Of course we also make day trips to explore the surroundings of Ballenstedt.
Help
We would love some help with
-carpentry
-sanding
-painting (doors, windows, walls, sealing ect)
-gardening
- And more ...Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: Intermediate
French: Beginner
Italian: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.Accommodation
We are living in the station building since the end of 2022. In the large living room we have a comfortable sofa, chairs and a television, perfect for relaxing. We sleep in the basement, which is still somewhat improvised. There we also have (also improvised) spaces for our WorkAwayers. Of course, we have a (shared) bathroom with toilet and shower.
We make sure that you lack nothing and provide plenty of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks and of course fun! Of course, we take you into account and make the shopping list for the supermarket together.What else ...
We have a passenger van for 8 people, so after work we can arrange fun trips to explore the nature and cultural wealth of the area. Unfortunately, there is no longer a railroad line in front of our station, but there is a bus station right next to our building, with good bus connections to the various places around Ballenstedt. Train stations are located in Quedlinburg and Hoym-Nachterstedt.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We can host Digital Nomads. There is plenty of space to work online. We have stable and fast (500Mbits) Internet.
Space for parking camper vans
We have garden space around the station building. The bathroom with shower and toilet is in the station building.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (26)
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I had a wonderful 10 days here! I have learned a lot of skills and gained a lot of good memories! The first night I went to bed feeling cold and the next day I received an electric blanket from Exward; Ingrid prepared Rosenkohl and Dönerbox for me for dinner after hearing that I like them - a touching surprise... ...where I… read more
The work there is also really nice. Ingrid is a good… read more
The building is amazing and the project is huge and there are a lot of things to try on. I really liked sending and restoring the doors...if you are searching for a kind of zen-immersive practice i highly raccomend. Ingrid and Edward always do their best to… read more
Good luck with the project guys, it's looking great! Bernhard
My stay with Ingrid and Edward in Ballenstedt was great! Ingrid gave clear instructions and tips on what to do and how, Edward was always making jokes and asking if everything was alright :)
They took me on day trips to Magdeburg, Quedlinburg, to a glass factory museum... and gave good advice on what to visit nearby. If you love nature or… read more
It was a pleasure to be part of your beautiful project for like a month.I always felt like I was at home and it was a beautiful feeling for me most of all because I'm very shy. You’re really kind, nice and generous people, so thank you so much for letting me work with you. It was my first experience with Workaway and it was… read more